Senate approves unemployment benefits extension

Deb Price / Detroit News Washington Bureau

Washington --The Senate unanimously voted tonight to extend an additional 20 weeks of unemployment benefits in Michigan and other hard-hit states.

With 600,000 jobless Americans having cashed their last unemployment check, including 44,500 in Michigan, the House plans to take up the Senate bill Thursday, according to an aide to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

That avoids a House-Senate conference to reconcile different bills and get the Senate version -- which includes 14 weeks for all states, plus six more for states with at least 8.5 percent jobless rates -- to President Barack Obama, who has signaled he'll sign it.

But even if that all happens, Gov. Jennifer Granholm's office estimates that checks won't go out to those who've exhausted their benefits until mid-December.

"I don't understand why they took so long, but it will make it a big difference in helping me get by," said Tom Clementson, a 58-year-old unemployed construction worker in Indian River who cashed his last check at the end of August.

Michigan's jobless rate is 15.3 percent -- the highest in the nation.

The Senate voted 98-0 after a four-week partisan squabble during which 200,000 Americans exhausted their benefits.

Republicans wanted to add more amendments, while Democrats shot back that Republicans didn't care about jobless Americans desperately in need of cash.

Michigan Sens. Carl Levin, D-Detroit, and Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, voted for the benefits.

Levin said the added benefits will keep jobless Americans "in their homes. It will keep their children fed and clothed.

"... Previous extensions of unemployment insurance benefits have played an under-appreciated role in helping us avoid even greater economic collapse. There are businesses still open, neighborhoods still filled with families instead of foreclosed homes, wheels of commerce still turning because of the economic fuel these extensions have provided."

Stabenow said: "Families throughout the state and across the country are struggling to put food on the table as many cope with finding new jobs and training for new careers. This extension of unemployment insurance not only provides support when it is needed most, it is one of the fastest, most effective ways to stimulate our economy."

dprice@detnews.com (202) 662-8736