Senate close to restoring unemployment benefits

WASHINGTON (AP) – More than 2 million workers who have been laid
off for long stretches could get their unemployment benefits
restored as early as next week.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said the Senate will take up a
measure Tuesday to restore the extended benefits, right after a new
Democratic senator from West Virginia is sworn in.

With the death of Sen. Robert Byrd, Senate Democrats had been a
vote short of the 60 needed to overcome a GOP filibuster. West
Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin has said he could name a temporary
replacement to fill Byrd’s seat by Friday.

The House already has passed a bill to extend the benefits
through November, at a cost of about $34 billion.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)