A bill to restore federal benefits for the long-term unemployed advanced this week when six Republican senators voted with Democrats to prevent a GOP filibuster. Unemployment insurance expired Dec. 28, leaving nearly 1.3 million Americans who have been out of work for 27 or more weeks without a weekly support check of about $300. President Obama and congressional Democrats argue that the payments are needed to keep as many as 5 million people from becoming destitute in the coming year. But Republicans are resisting, saying that long-term unemployment benefits discourage people from hunting for work.
Now the full Senate will debate and vote on the proposed legislation, which if passed will be sent to the GOP-dominated House. Speaker John Boehner said he would not accept an extension unless the $6.5 billion price tag is offset by other budget cuts.
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