It's about time:
The Senate on Wednesday approved by a vote of 98-0 a bill that extends several measures designed to spur the economy and help people who have lost their jobs, including a provision that will extend unemployment benefits for up to 20 weeks in states with high unemployment rates.The bill is part of a series of proposals Democrats putting forward to help boost the economy and aid Americans who are out of work. While Democrats are wary of casting the policies as a "second stimulus" -- the $787 billion bill passed earlier this year remains controversial -- all the provisions the Senate approved Wednesday were in the original stimulus legislation but set to expire. (Link)
Sen. Jon Kyl had said this earlier about the Senate Republicans slow walking the passage of the unemployment benefits extension:
"I have no doubt that [at] the appropriate time we'll be able to work out some kind of agreement, but our side is going to need some time to look at it."
I wonder if Sen Kyl would feel a sense of urgency if his salary and health care coverage was revoked.
Look for a quick approval by the House, which had passed their version of an extension some six weeks ago.
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