2010 Unemployment Extension Sees New Life in Senator Debbie Stabenow’s Standalone Bill
On June 22, Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) introduced Senate bill S.3520 (the Unemployment Insurance Extension Act), which presented a standalone measure that would extend
unemployment benefits to those losing their benefits from June 2 onward until year’s end, to such little fanfare that it went virtually unnoticed. But, on June 24, the continuation of the Republican-led filibuster of bill H.R.4213, the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010, made headlines.
In that bill, which failed a cloture vote, was the unemployment benefits extension measure that has become the focus of millions, especially those who have had their unemployment benefits cut off — and those who will in the coming weeks. In two days, Senator Stabenow’s standalone bill received no media attention. But, Maine’s Republican Senator Olympia Snowe’s Friday (the following day) letter to Senate Majority Harry Reid calling for a standalone vote made national headlines. And, Senator Stabenow’s standalone bill? Still in the Senate, open to consideration, ignored by the media. Read more
Senate Vote To Debate On Health Care Reform Bill
WASHINGTON — Invoking the memory of Edward M. Kennedy, Democrats united Saturday night to push historic health care legislation past a key Senate hurdle over the opposition of Republicans eager to inflict a punishing defeat on President Barack Obama. There was not a vote to spare.
The 60-39 vote cleared the way for a bruising, full-scale debate beginning after Thanksgiving on the legislation, which is designed to extend coverage to roughly 31 million who lack it, crack down on insurance company practices that deny or dilute benefits and curtail the growth of spending on medical care nationally.
Watch Sens. Reid, Dodd, Harkin Discuss Today’s Vote:
