Unemployment News July 20th, 2010
Senate Democrats have blocked the Republican filibuster on unemployment benefit extension bill H.R. 4213. The block was passed by house Democrats in a 60-40 vote at 2:30 PM on July 21, 2010 after West Virginia Senator Robert Bird’s replacement, Carte Goodwin, was sworn in. The bill, which will now go through a simple majority vote, is expected to pass within the next 24 hours before going to the House of Representatives for vote. The bill once passed will extend filling dead lines for unemployment benefits. This bill however is not the unemployment benefit extension many Americans have hoped for, however the bill would allow individuals in states with an unemployment rate above 8.5% to continuing to collect unemployment benefits for up to 99 weeks. The bill is retroactive meaning it would also allow payments to individuals who have failed to file on the previous deadline of June 2 to start receiving benefits again. It’s thought that this will be helpful to 2.5 million Americans. Currently, 24 states and the District of Columbia qualify for the 99 week deadline. Many are concerned that the filling deadline extension will still leave millions of Americans without an income. The 99 week unemployed are the most concern as no long term extensions will go into effect.
US unemployment at 9.5 appears to have lowered for now.
The effect bill H.R. 4213 will have on the upcoming elections.
Republicans try to stop unemployment extension.