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House extends jobless benefits
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The House on Thursday approved an extra three months of jobless benefits for all unemployed Americans, knowing the plan's chances are slight in the Senate and almost nonexistent at the White House.
After failing to get a veto-proof two-thirds margin by three votes on Wednesday, Democrats got an exact two-thirds margin on Thursday with a 274-137 vote -- the amount needed to overcome a threatened presidential veto.
The Labor Department reported Thursday that the number of people filing new claims for unemployment benefits last week increased by 25,000 from the week before.
The unemployment rate in May jumped to 5.5 percent, up from 5 percent in April. It was the biggest one-month gain in 22 years.
The White House has threatened to veto the bill, and Senate Democrats have said they won't try to force Republicans to consider the House legislation.
Instead, Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Democrats might attach the jobless benefits extension to the Iraq war spending bill, a move also opposed by the White House.
The White House and Republicans said a bill targeting unemployment benefits only to states that have high unemployment would be more palatable to them.
Minnesota Democrats Keith Ellison, Betty McCollum, Jim Oberstar, Collin Peterson and Tim Walz voted in favor, as did Republican Jim Ramstad. Republicans Michele Bachmann and John Kline voted no.
CHILDHOOD CANCER BILL ADVANCES
A childhood cancer research bill co-written by Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., took a step forward Thursday as the House passed the legislation unanimously.
The Conquer Childhood Cancer Act of 2007, which was introduced in March of last year, would provide $30 million per year through 2012 to expand childhood cancer research.
Cancer is the No. 1 disease killer of children.
"I am pleased the House has moved forward so decisively," said Coleman. "In the Senate, it is still a challenge."
The bill passed the House 416-0 with the support of all Minnesota members. In the Senate, the bill has 64 cosponsors, including Minnesota Democrat Amy Klobuchar and the minority and majority leaders.
Opponents of the bill have said they won't support disease-specific funding and prefer to leave research funding to the National Institutes of Health.
AP, STAFF REPORTS
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