U.S. Senate takes up bill again extending aid to jobless
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As the U.S. Senate today considers whether to reauthorize emergency unemployment benefits, 195,000 Pennsylvanians have a real rooting interest in the outcome.
If Congress does not approve an extension, those people will see their unemployment insurance compensation cut off by the end of the month -- before reaching the 99-week coverage period that had been offered during much of the recession.
The unemployment benefits have been a matter of pointed debate nationally and on the state level. President Barack Obama on Monday called passage of the extension "essential." Last week, the issue erupted in the Pennsylvania governor's race when the candidates sparred over the impact of unemployment benefits on workers' motivation to find jobs.
Some 2.5 million people nationwide have seen their weekly checks interrupted since an earlier extension of the jobless aid program expired June 2.
States are responsible for the first 26 weeks of benefits, but the federal government stepped in last year to fully fund up to 73 additional weeks of benefits under the terms of last year's economic stimulus bill.
Pennsylvania started phasing out benefits on June 5.
Legislation to reauthorize the extension has been before the U.S. Senate since May with the Democrats unable to get the 60 votes they need to close debate on the bill. But that might change today when Carte Goodwin, who was tapped by West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin to fill the late Sen. Robert Byrd's unexpired term, is sworn into office.
The vote on unemployment benefits is scheduled 15 minutes after Mr. Goodwin, a Democrat, is sworn into office.
If the Senate passes the current measure, the House is expected to clear it for the president's signature as soon as Wednesday.
The bill contains a provision that people who had their benefits cut off because of the expiration will receive them retroactively.
David Smith, a spokesman for the state Department of Labor's Center for Workforce Information and Analysis, said unemployed workers in Pennsylvania have been informed that if they have not exhausted the full 99 weeks, they should continue to file biweekly claims even if their benefits have been cut off.
First Published July 20, 2010 12:00 am
