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University of Wisconsin–Madison
Poverty-related issues in the news, from the Institute for Research on Poverty

Extension of Jobless Benefits

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  • Senators end impasse on extending jobless aid, By Carl Hulse, April 12, 2010, New York Times: “The Senate on Monday agreed to consider a temporary extension of unemployment benefits after four Republicans joined Democrats in voting to debate the proposal, which has become the focus of an intensifying fight over deficit spending. Despite objections from conservative Republicans, the Senate voted 60 to 34 to move ahead with a measure that would keep checks flowing to jobless Americans who are exhausting their benefits and maintain federal subsidies for health insurance for the unemployed. The measure must clear other procedural hurdles, but Democrats hope to win its approval this week…”
  • After politics ended jobless benefits, Senate takes steps to restore them, By David Lightman, April 12, 2010, Miami Herald: “The Senate on Monday took a major, and likely decisive, step toward restoring jobless benefits for hundreds of thousands of people, as those constituents endured an eighth consecutive day without assurances of any help. Efforts to provide the benefits have been stalled while senators fought over how and whether to pay for the aid. A 60-34 Senate vote Monday to overcome a procedural hurdle and move to a final vote offered new hope that the impasse will be broken later this week…”
  • Jobless benefits advance in Senate with Republican votes, By Ben Pershing, April 13, 2010, Washington Post: “The Senate moved closer Monday to extending jobless benefits that expired a week ago, overcoming a procedural vote over the objections of deficit-conscious Republicans. The chamber voted 60 to 34 to proceed on a measure that would extend unemployment insurance, subsidies for the COBRA health insurance program and federal flood insurance through May 5. Four Republicans — Sens. Scott Brown (Mass.), Susan Collins (Maine), Olympia J. Snowe (Maine) and George V. Voinovich (Ohio) — joined every Democrat present in voting to move the bill forward, making it likely that the measure will pass in a final tally this week…”