Jobless benefits clears Senate hurdle by one vote STOP THE GOP

WASHINGTON – Senate Democrats broke through a stubborn Republican filibuster Tuesday 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 as early as Tuesday evening. The recovery from the nation's long and deep recession has produced relatively few new jobs so far, and 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. "That would increase economic demand. And that would help support our fragile economic recovery."