Bill to Extend Jobless Benefits Stalls in Senate

Senate wrangling over tax and spending issues delayed the final vote Wednesday on a bill designed to extend jobless benefits for 1 million long-term unemployed workers.

Backers of the $1.1-billion measure succeeded, however, in overcoming a major obstacle that had threatened Tuesday to sink the legislation.

The Senate cleared the way for passage of the bill--expected by the end of the week--by voting, 61 to 39, to waive a budget rule that would have required the entire cost of the legislation to be paid in the current fiscal year.

But debate over a series of amendments continued well into the evening, dashing hopes of Democratic leaders for quick passage of the Administration-backed measure.

Advocates of the bill had hoped to get the measure--already approved by the House--to President Clinton quickly so that it could be signed into law. That final step would allow benefits retroactive to Oct. 2 to begin flowing to jobless workers.

The bill would provide 13 extra weeks of benefits for workers who have exhausted their regular 26 weeks of payments and live in states--such as California--with the highest unemployment rates. Workers in other states would be entitled to an additional seven weeks of payments.

The unexpected delay began Tuesday when supporters of the bill fell one vote short of the 60 needed to waive the budget rule. The final vote on a roll call was 59 to 38. Two Democrats who were absent at that time--Sen. Donald W. Riegle Jr. of Michigan and Sen. Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont--cast votes Wednesday to keep the bill alive.

Urging speedy action, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said her state has a great stake in the outcome.

“Of 1.4 million unemployed in California, 327,000 have been unemployed for six months or more,” she told the Senate. “So 327,000 lives, in one state alone, rest on this decision.”