US Senate clears hurdle to extend jobless help
Thursday, 22 July 2010
WASHINGTON, July 21 (AFP): The US Senate voted yesterday to advance legislation restoring unemployment benefits to help some 2.5 million Americans ahead of November mid-term elections shaped by deep voter anger at high joblessness.
Lawmakers voted 60-40 to end debate on the bill, as just two Republicans joined all but one of President Barack Obama's Democratic allies to back the 34-billion-dollar bill to help the long-term unemployed.
Democrats prevailed where they had fallen short in prior weeks thanks to the newest senator, West Virginia Democrat Carte Goodwin, who was sworn in shortly before the ballot as successor to long-serving Democratic Senator Robert Byrd.
"The average benefit is 309 dollars a week. But it is the difference in too many families of whether or not there will be a roof over their heads," Goodwin said at a press conference after the vote.
Lawmakers voted 60-40 to end debate on the bill, as just two Republicans joined all but one of President Barack Obama's Democratic allies to back the 34-billion-dollar bill to help the long-term unemployed.
Democrats prevailed where they had fallen short in prior weeks thanks to the newest senator, West Virginia Democrat Carte Goodwin, who was sworn in shortly before the ballot as successor to long-serving Democratic Senator Robert Byrd.
"The average benefit is 309 dollars a week. But it is the difference in too many families of whether or not there will be a roof over their heads," Goodwin said at a press conference after the vote.