The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bill providing a 13 week extension of unemployment benefits for about 2 million laid-off workers. The February 6th Senate vote closely followed the collapse of Democrat and Republican negotiations on a wider economic stimulus package for the nation.

Most Republicans favored the Bush plan for "stimulus", a scheme that amounted to massive additional tax cuts for the rich and for big business. Most Democrats favored more worker-friendly stimulus measures. Most lawmakers are hoping that our current recession is bottoming out, reducing what they perceive as the need for economic stimulus.

The unemployment extension bill now goes to the House of Representatives for action. At this time it is critical that House members hear from working people demanding that the 13 week extension be passed ASAP, to alleviate some of the suffering of the unemployed. Your House members may be reached at (202)224-3121, or via their web sites/e-mails, which may be found at www.house.gov [1] .