Jobless benefits bill clears hurdle in Senate

WASHINGTON - Senate Democrats broke through a stubborn Republican filibuster yesterday and pressed to restart jobless benefits for 2 1/2 million Americans still unable to find work in the frail national economic recovery. The Democrats were victorious by the single vote of a new senator sworn in only moments earlier.

Senators voted 60-40 to move ahead on the bill, clearing the way for a final vote in the chamber Wednesday.

Millions of people's unemployment benefits began running out seven weeks ago as Congress bogged down in an impasse over whether the $34-billion cost of a fresh extension of benefits should be paid for with budget cuts or be added to the $13-trillion national debt.

Democrats emphasized the plight of the unemployed and argued that putting money in the pockets of jobless families would also boost economic revival.

"This bill is about jobs, because unemployment insurance goes to people who will spend it immediately," said Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.).

Many Republicans have voted in the past for deficit-financed benefits extension - including twice under the most recent Bush administration. But with the deficit well in excess of $1 trillion, they now say it should be paid for with cuts elsewhere in the $3.7-trillion federal budget.

"We've repeatedly voted for similar bills in the past. And we are ready to support one now," said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). "What we do not support - and we make no apologies for - is borrowing tens of billions of dollars to pass this bill at a time when the national debt is spinning completely out of control."

After yesterday's vote, President Barack Obama promised to redouble his efforts to win enactment of legislation to help small businesses and cash-starved states and to renew an expired middle-class tax cut.