The Senate took a key step forward on renewing expired unemployment benefits, voting to open debate on a bipartisan measure on Thursday afternoon.
The 65-34 vote was a significant breakthrough, putting the Senate on a glide path to final passage next week.
But Speaker John Boehner has indicated he has no intention of putting the proposal on the House floor, citing concerns about implementation and a dearth of job-creation provisions in the package. Some Senate Republicans forged ahead anyway, despite Boehner’s opposition.
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“I hope if we can get a good vote over here, then [Boehner] will take another look at it,” said Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
Working closely with Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Collins and GOP Sens. Dean Heller of Nevada, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mark Kirk of Illinois, Rob Portman of Ohio agreed with Democrats to restore through May long-term jobless benefits that expired on Dec. 28. That Republican support ensured that the bill could clear a 60-vote hurdle in the Senate, a significant breakthrough after a similar package fell just one vote short in February and other measures suffered numerous false starts this year.
“We are finally on our way to getting this much needed assistance into the hands of job-seekers, but there needs to be a real sense of urgency,” Reed said after his triumphant vote.
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The five Republican deal-cutters got far more support than previously expected, with ten Republicans ultimately blessing the bill’s advance, including Sens. Bob Corker of Tennessee, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Dan Coats of Indiana, Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania. Many of those Republicans are from blue or purple-tinged states that can expect competitive reelection bids in future years.
The strong GOP support was even more remarkable given that Ayotte and Coats dropped out of the bipartisan negotiations earlier this month — and Coats had predicted he would oppose the deal because it did not include his suggested reforms. Still, Republicans will likely demand votes on some amendments next week and if Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) does not allow them, Republicans may slow passage of the bill and GOP support could shrink.
The $ 10 billion effort is paid for by extending U.S. Customs Service fees and changing federal pension laws. The bill also includes a boost for job placement programs and prohibits millionaires from obtaining jobless benefits.
“It’s worth … moving forward with an extension that’s paid for, that has some reforms initially that offers the promise of further reforms, which is why I’m supporting it,” Portman said.
Despite the strong showing on Thursday the vast majority of Senate Republicans still believe the bill’s reforms don’t go far enough. They opposed the legislation, including lawmakers from other high unemployment states like Mississippi and Arizona.
“It is an issue [on which] we need to have fundamental reforms. And to just keep throwing money at the problem, is that reform?” said Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who wants the entire system rewritten, similar to the welfare reform overhaul in the 1990s. “We’ve got to improve the system.”
Senate advances jobless aid
