Congress passes jobless benefits extension
Following weeks of debate, Congress yesterday passed extended unemployment benefits that could help nearly 10,000 jobless Mainers.
The new law, signed by President Obama yesterday, reauthorizes the Emergency Unemployment Compensation and Extended Benefits programs through Nov. 30, extending benefits for the unemployed in Maine from 26 weeks to 47 weeks, with another 13 weeks after that, according to a press release from the Maine Department of Labor. Those who would have received the extended benefits had they not expired at the end of May will also receive aid retroactively. The Maine DOL is working to inform the thousands of unemployed workers in Maine who could be eligible for the extension, but warned the funds will take time to reach those who qualify.
U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe were the only Republicans to support the benefits extension in the Senate vote Wednesday, after other members of their party filibustered the bill, calling for budget cuts to offset the costs of the extension, according to the Associated Press. The extension programs have provided more than $300 million to thousands of unemployed workers in the country since the recession began, according to the release.
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