Unemployment Extension Passes Test Vote - Action This Week Is Expected - All Eyes On Congress

Your calls to your representatives are being heard. Thank you, readers, for your involvement and please stay involved. We must not relent our calls and emails and letters to Congress until assistance is achieved. Several sources are now projecting a bill to clear the Senate and be signed into law by the end of the week. (Possibly, early next week).

Below is breaking news from the Associated Press:

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A final vote is now expected tomorrow in the Senate, on a measure that would give additional months of unemployment benefits to people who've been out of work for more than half a year.

It cleared a key hurdle today in the Senate, with enough Republican support to guarantee that it can pass the Senate. Eight Republicans voted with Democrats to defeat a GOP filibuster.

The sweeping measure also would prevent doctors from absorbing a crippling cut in Medicare payments. It also extends health insurance subsidies for the unemployed through December.

And it includes the annual extension of $26 billion worth of tax breaks for businesses and individuals that are popular with senators of both parties.

Democrats are also hoping this week to separately finish work on a far smaller job-creation measure that includes additional highway spending as well as new tax breaks for companies that hire the unemployed.