Senate's vote to extend jobless benefits delayed
Deb Price Detroit News Washington Bureau
November 04, 2009 20:13 PM

Washington -- Senate Democrats and Republicans traded blows today over who is responsible for the slow pace of voting to extend unemployment benefits, leaving in doubt a final vote before Wednesday at the earliest on the high-stakes issue to tens of thousands of Michiganians.

The delay is infuriating jobless workers like Dave Ellcey of Lawton, who cashed his last unemployment check last week and is starting to borrow money to keep up with bills.

"I feel angry and bitter," Ellcey said. "They (senators) are going to do it eventually. So why are they taking so long? They are affecting people's lives."

Gov. Jennifer Granholm's office in Washington said even if Congress and the president agree on a bill this week, the state's Unemployment Insurance Agency couldn't begin payments to jobless workers who've exhausted their benefits until mid-December.

Today, the Senate has been grinding its way through a 30-hour period of debate that ends shortly before midnight.

Senate Democrats and Republicans haven't been able to work out a deal to proceed more quickly to a vote because Republicans are upset the majority party won't let them offer more amendments.

Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., defended the delay by fellow Republicans.

Kyl zeroed in on the Democrats' plan to pay for the additional benefits by extending a surtax on businesses through June 30, 2011. He argued that would undermine businesses during the downturn and discourage them from hiring new workers.

Companies pay a $56 tax per employee each year for the unemployment insurance program. That includes a $14 surtax, which is what Democrats would extend to raise $2.4 billion to pay for the extra jobless benefits.