Politics

Unemployment Extension Passes House, But the Bill is Now Stuck in Limbo

By Sunlight Foundation & Participatory Politics Foundation

As expected, the House of Representatives this afternoon passed their stand-alone unemployment insurance extension bill (H.R. 5816). The vote wasn’t even close. 270 congressmen voted in favor of the bill, including 29 Republicans, and only 153 voted against it. For now, you can see the full roll call details here.

Among those voting “no” were 11 Democrats — Brian Baird [D, WA-3], Robert Berry [D, AR-1], Bobby Bright [D, AL-2], Jim Cooper [D, TN-5], Baron Hill [D, IN-9], Betsy Markey [D, CO-4], James Marshall [D, GA-8], Mike McIntyre [D, NC-7], Walter Minnick [D, ID-1], Glenn Nye [D, VA-2] and Heath Shuler [D, NC-11].

The bill would extend the filing deadline for extended unemployment insurance benefits until Nov. 30, 2010. It does not contain the extra $25 per month from the Federal Additional Compensation program that was passed in the 2009 stimulus bill. It also would not create a fifth tier of benefits; 99 weeks would still be the maximum amount of time a person coud receive benefits payments. It would, however, pay benefits back retroactively to individuals who have seen their payment cut off since the deadline for filing for new tiers of benefits expired on June 1.

Despite the House’s vote today, the bill is not likely to be signed into law until mid July when the Senate returns from their recess. Both chambers must pass the bill before it can be sent to Obama to become law. When the Senate returns on July 12, the Democrats should have the 60 votes they will need to finally overcome a Republican filibuster of the extension because West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin (D) is expected to have appointed a replacement for Sen. Robert Byrd [D, WV] by then.

The Iowa Independent reported earlier in the day that another Senate vote was possible tonight under an emergency session called by Senate Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid [D, NV], but that does not appear to be panning out. It looks like the Senate will, in fact, stay adjourned until July 12.

Full post as published by Open Congress on July 02, 2010 (boomark / email).