Senate Won't Vote on Unemployment Benefits Extensions Until Robert Byrd Replacement Named

The Senate returned to work today after a one week holiday break, but don't expect them to vote on extending unemployment benefits just yet. According to an article on TheHill.com, the vote on HR 5618, which extends the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) deadline through November, is delayed until a replacement is named for the late Senator Robert Byrd (D-VW). Byrd passed away in late June leaving the Democrats one vote shy of being able to pass the jobless benefits bill that passed in the House of Representatives in June.

A new standalone unemployment benefits extension bill

The original plan to extend unemployment benefits was part of a larger bill called The American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act (HR 4213.) The hope was to get HR 4213 passed before the EUC deadline of June 2, 2010. When this bill failed 3 times to pass in the Senate, the House quickly drew up and voted on a standalone bill that primarily dealt with extending jobless benefits. Unfortunately, the bill passed in the House after the Senate adjourned for the July 4^th holiday. Further complicating the passage of this bill was the passing of Senator Byrd, the much needed 60^th vote to pass HR 5618.

When will Senator Byrd's replacement be announced?

WOWK-TV online reports that West Virginia Governor Jim Manchin is waiting until a special session of his state's legislature this Thursday before making a decision on who will replace Byrd. Governor Manchin says he needs some clarification on West Virginia law regarding special elections and naming an interim replacement for Byrd. Meanwhile, the unemployed anxiously await Governor Manchin's decision and hope for the best case scenario: a replacement for Byrd is named Thursday and the Senate votes Friday to extend unemployment benefits.

Time is running out

Congress will adjourn for a month long recess from August 6^th -Sept 9^th, so this unemployment benefits extension bill needs to be passed before then or else thousands more jobless American will lose their benefits this summer. Since June 2, 2010, over 2 million Americans have lost their benefits because of the delay in passing an extension.

Sources:

Vicki Needham Unemployment benefits bill on hold until Byrd replacement named, TheHill.com, July 12, 2010

Jack Kane, Gov. Manchin Continues Research on Filling Sen. Byrd's Seat, WOWK-TV online, July 12, 2010

Michael Thornton, 2,181.500 have lost unemployment benefits. When will Congress vote to extend unemployment benefits? The Examiner, July 11, 2010