cross-posted from Working America's Main Street blog where I am a featured guest blogger
In the umpteenth iteration of a jobless aid extension bill, one in which Democrats agreed to cut out more than $20 billion, an attempt to overcome the Republican-led filibuster failed last night on a vote of 56 to 40, four short of the required 60 votes.
As we reported yesterday in 'Pseudo-economics Becomes Sado-economics', the latest version of the bill (H.R. 4213) removed the program that provides an extra $25 per week to those receiving unemployment compensation.
Apparently taking $100 a month from jobless workers wasn't enough to satisfy Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) and Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) who joined every voting Republican to continue to block the measure.
When the Senate passed a short-term, two-month extension of the federal unemployment benefit programs in April, Republican Senators George Voinovich (OH), Susan Collins (ME) and Olympia Snowe (ME) voted to pass that bill. Thus far, they have continued to vote "No" on the current measure that would extend eligibility through November.
I have been on the phone with Senate offices all morning, specifically with the offices of Lieberman, Nelson, Voinovich, Collins and Snowe. My message for them has been simple: Drop your support of this sadistic filibuster. And then I add a rather rhetorical question: If taking $25 a week away from jobless workers like myself wasn't enough to get your vote, how much more pain do you want to inflict?
You can call them too, toll-free at 888-254-5087.