Unemployment Benefits Extension | featured news

New U.S. claims for jobless benefits climbed more steeply than anticipated last week, according to a Labor Department report on Thursday that further underlined the drag on economic activity from persistently weak job markets.

The Senate voted on Wednesday to reinstate unemployment benefits for about 2.5 million Americans whose checks were cut off in recent months due to a partisan standoff over deficit spending.

Democrats are expected to overcome Republican opposition to the package of new aid for unemployed Americans.

Senate Democrats are set to pass a key hurdle Tuesday on extending unemployment benefits for an estimated 2.5 million unemployed Americans and are expected to overcome a Republican filibuster of the new aid.

A vote on the package is set for Tuesday, minutes after the swearing-in of a new West Virginia senator gives Democrats the ability to overcome a filibuster.

On the eve of a vote to extend jobless benefits, President Obama urged Republican senators to set aside partisanship and vote for a package that would provide relief to 2.5-million out-of-work Americans.

The unsavory task of explaining why America apparently can't afford to help the unemployed but can afford tax cuts for the rich fell to Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) on Sunday.

President Barack Obama says Senate Republicans are playing politics with bills that would extend benefits to the unemployed and increase lending to small businesses.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs predicted on Tuesday that the Senate will pass an extension of unemployment benefits sometime next week after nearly a month of delays over the size and scope of the package.

"I think this president will press and my belief is the Senate will take up [the package]," said Gibbs, "and we will pass next week an extension of unemployment insurance."

Speaking at the daily briefing, Gibbs hinted that the White House and allied campaign committees will be monitoring the vote closely for electoral implications.

The Senate failed to pass an extension of federal unemployment benefits last night on a vote of 58-41. The Senate's fourth attempt this month to pass an extension of federal unemployment benefits failed a cloture vote last night.

Republicans in the Senate have defeated an election-year bill to continue weekly jobless benefits for millions of long-term unemployed workers.

Measure extends unemployment benefits, renew dozens of tax credits for businesses, individuals.