The Senate
passed an extension of unemployment insurance benefits Monday, with a bipartisan vote of 59-38.
The five Republicans who helped negotiate the measure — Susan Collins of Maine, Dean Heller of Nevada, Mark S. Kirk of Illinois, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Rob Portman of Ohio — joined the Democrats voting in favor of the bill along with Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H.
Three members did not vote — Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., and Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo. […]
But House action is uncertain at best. Speaker John A. Boehner, R-Ohio, has said repeatedly the Senate bill does not meet his test of creating jobs and being fiscally responsible.
A Boehner said that the Speaker was willing to consider the bill so long as it includes provisions to help job creation.
President Obama
lauded the bill's passing, saying "I urge House Republicans to stop blocking a bipartisan compromise that would stem this tide, take up the bill without delay, and send it to my desk. Let’s remove this needless drag on our economy and focus on expanding opportunity for all Americans."
The chances of that are slim to none, with Boehner's "job creation" requirements. Because job creation for Boehner is either tax cuts for the wealthy or Obamacare repeal. House Republicans won't actually do something to help working and middle class Americans.