House Passes Jobless Benefit Extension

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"The House approved legislation on Thursday that would restore unemployment pay for millions of Americans who have exhausted their standard benefits. The bill was sent to President Obama for his signature, and administration officials said Mr. Obama would sign it immediately.

The $34 billion measure was the subject of a fierce partisan battle in Congress over whether the cost should be offset with spending cuts or tax increases to avoid enlarging the federal deficit, as Republican opponents demanded. Democrats countered that the economic crisis amounted to a fiscal emergency, permitting the measure to be financed with deficit spending.

The vote in the House was 272 to 152, with 31 Republicans joining 241 Democrats in supporting the measure. Voting against were 142 Republicans and 10 Democrats.

“Today we put this sad chapter behind us,” said Representative Sander Levin, Democrat of Michigan and chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.

The fact that 31 Republicans sided with the Democratic majority showed the political sensitivity of the issue. Though they have been voting almost unanimously against most Democratic proposals, Republicans were somewhat splintered on the unemployment question."

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/23/us/politics/23jobs.html

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Oh, that's good news!

[femmocrat]

2. Interesting that some repubs are starting to "see the light".

And booooooo to those 10 dems who voted against.

[theophilus]

4. Where can we find the names of those 10 Dinos? n/t

[gateley]

5. HERE:

http://politics.nytimes.com/congress/votes/111/house/2/463

[theophilus]

8. No, I didn't get the number but I went to this site:

http://politics.nytimes.com/congress/votes/111/house/2/463


and it showed me what I wanted to know. My Rep Mike Ross (D-AR) voted for the bill. That's good on him. Sometimes he goes the wrong way but this time he "done good", imo.

[gateley]

10. I actually found it (at the same place) and came back and posted the link.

I initially went to thomas.gov (where I can never find anything) came back and asked you, then realized I was making it too complicated! :)

I don't even have to look to see how my guy voted - he's one of the good ones. (I've only been pissed at him once.)

There were even some Republicans who voted for it, so I just don't get any 'nays' from Dems. :shrug:

Happy to hear your guy didn't let you down. :hi:

[theophilus]

11. Thanks for helping! n/t

[WillyT]

3. Off To The Greatest Page With You !!! - K & R !!!

:kick:

[ORDagnabbit]

6. cut our death machine...er.. .I mean our military spending by 1/4 and we could do so much more...

[Hosnon]

7. Keep this momentum rolling! nt.

[lib2DaBone]

9. I'm glad this passed... it will help so many people...

..but this is a 90-day reprieve at best and does nothing for the millions of 99-ers.

Come Xmas... we are in a world of hurt.. right back where we started.

Instead of working to gut Social Security and Medicare... Mr. Obama and CONgress should be working on a WPA-Jobs program.