In a move that is going to benefit millions of jobless Americans, the Senate has passed unemployment extension bill, after months of debate. As per the legislation, the out of work Americans would receive unemployment privileges through November. The bill brought by the US government was blocked by the opposition, which questioned its affect on the national debt. The bill, after receiving go ahead from the government, was blocked by the Senate where Republicans strongly opposed the bill.
Democrats succeeded in gaining the required 60 votes to overcome the opposition. Democratic senator from West Virginia, Carte Goodwin temporarily filled the seat left vacant by the death of Robert Byrd. Goodwin’s support is thought to be very crucial in the passage of the bill. The legislation, which was backed by President Obama, will provide benefits for those who have completed their standard 26 weeks of unemployment. The bill will now face a final vote in the Senate. In a bid to become a law, it needs to get clearance from the House of Representatives.
Republicans have maintained that they could support the bill but the $34 billion cost of the proposal should not be added to the national debt. "Of course we ought to extend unemployment," said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. "But we ought to pay for it."
The vote came moments after Goodwin was sworn in. Goodwin’s entry meant Democrats had 60 votes they needed to upstage the threat of a GOP filibuster. Goodwin was escorted on to the Senate floor by West Virginia's senior senator, Democrat Jay Rockefeller. Vice President Joe Biden administered the oath of office. "Hey, Carte, welcome," Biden said before presiding over the swearing in. "Good to see you, man." Two Republicans, Maine Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, voted in favour for the unemployment legislation, while one Democrat, Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska, voted against it. "I support extending unemployment benefits for Nebraskans and Americans who remain out of work," Nelson said in a statement. "However, I opposed the Senate's unemployment bill today because it should have, and it could have, been paid for."
