The Senate voted Monday to begin debate on an extension of unemployment insurance and health benefits, with four Republicans joining with Democrats to allow the bill to clear the main procedural hurdle. Even though the bill includes federal funding of abortion, it is being supported by the Catholic Bishops.
By a 60-34 vote, the Senate agreed to consider extending the benefits and it is expected that the Senate will pass the actual extension later this week.
It is estimated that over 200,000 Americans were impacted by the expiration of the benefits. The vote Monday gave Democrats the needed 60 votes to block any filibuster attempts by Republicans to delay the process of extending the benefits further.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., criticized Republicans for their efforts to block the extension, saying, "To them, it doesn't matter than these people lost their jobs through no fault of their own - or that they're desperate to find a new full-time job - or that this is an emergency not only for their families, but for our country."
Republican Senators George Voinovich, R-Ohio, Scott Brown, R-Mass., Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, and Susan Collins, R-Maine, joined Democrats in voting for considering the extensions.
In a statement released after the vote, Brown said that he supported the bill because families in Massachusetts and across the nation are hurting.
Under the bill, the federal government will pay 65% of the costs of health insurance policies for laid off workers including policies that fund abortions. Contrary to the Health Care Reform bill that provided no federal money for abortions, this is a direct government funding of abortions.
By a 60-34 vote, the Senate agreed to consider extending the benefits and it is expected that the Senate will pass the actual extension later this week.
It is estimated that over 200,000 Americans were impacted by the expiration of the benefits. The vote Monday gave Democrats the needed 60 votes to block any filibuster attempts by Republicans to delay the process of extending the benefits further.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., criticized Republicans for their efforts to block the extension, saying, "To them, it doesn't matter than these people lost their jobs through no fault of their own - or that they're desperate to find a new full-time job - or that this is an emergency not only for their families, but for our country."
Republican Senators George Voinovich, R-Ohio, Scott Brown, R-Mass., Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, and Susan Collins, R-Maine, joined Democrats in voting for considering the extensions.
In a statement released after the vote, Brown said that he supported the bill because families in Massachusetts and across the nation are hurting.
Under the bill, the federal government will pay 65% of the costs of health insurance policies for laid off workers including policies that fund abortions. Contrary to the Health Care Reform bill that provided no federal money for abortions, this is a direct government funding of abortions.
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