The Washington Post
Updated March 3, 2010 9:14 pm
By Ben Pershing
Senators approved a bill extending unemployment benefits, highway funding and other federal programs Tuesday night after Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) dropped his days-long blockade of the bill.
The Senate approved the measure 78 to 19.
Bunning had held up the Senate's consideration of the package of 30-day extensions since Thursday, arguing that the measures were not paid for. Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) said they were, but Bunning stood firm until reaching accord on a deal Tuesday.
That agreement allowed a vote on the package and also gave Bunning a vote on his amendment forcing the $10 billion bill to be offset with the closing of a tax loophole that has benefited the paper industry. The amendment failed, with 43 senators voting for it... FULL ARTICLE
Posted on
Wed, March 3, 2010
by Crystal Drwenski