New Senator Helps Advance Jobless Benefits

Goodwin provides 60th vote to block GOP delay tactic
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jul 20, 2010 2:21 PM CDT
New Senator Helps Advance Jobless Benefits
Carte Goodwin, left, is guided by Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., after their meeting on Capitol Hill Tuesday.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

A bill to restore unemployment benefits to millions of Americans who have been out of work for more than 6 months has cleared a Senate hurdle. The 60-40 vote came moments after Carte Goodwin, a successor to West Virginia's Robert Byrd, was sworn in. Goodwin was the crucial 60th senator to defeat a Republican delaying tactic that has led to a lapse in benefits for 2.5 million Americans. After a final Senate vote, the House will take up the bill tomorrow. President Obama is likely to sign it into law by week's end. (More Senate stories.)

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