Thank you Sens. Byrd and Rockefeller

by: Clem Guttata

Fri Mar 12, 2010 at 06:34:58 AM EST

A big thank you to Sens. Byrd and Rockefeller for voting for the extension of jobless benefits.

The Senate approved $140 billion in extended tax breaks and unemployment benefits on Wednesday in a largely partisan vote.

The bill was approved on a 62-36 vote, with six Republicans joining most Democrats in backing it.

Senate Democrats are calling the measure a jobs bill, though it includes tax breaks extended by Congress on a near-annual basis as well as a fix to Medicare payments for doctors that lawmakers also have previously extended.

It's the second package of legislation that Senate Democrats have labeled as a jobs bill this year, joining a $15 billion measure approved by the Senate last week.

GOP Sens. Kit Bond (Mo.), Susan Collins (Maine), Olympia Snowe (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), David Vitter (La.) and George Voinovich (Ohio) voted for the bill.

We're a long way off from an economic recovery that puts everyone back to work who wants to work.

Thank you for continuing to provide relief to those who need it in this time of great need.