
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, October 28, 1993                   TAG: 9310280155
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

DEMOCRATS REVIVE JOBLESS BILL

Democrats broke a Republican stranglehold on an unemployment benefits extension Wednesday and began pushing a bill through the Senate that could help 1 million jobless Americans.

A day after an ambush by GOP lawmakers sidelined the legislation by a single vote, the Senate voted 61-39 to end the procedural roadblock and resumed debating the bill. A vote on final passage seemed likely today.

Final approval would ship the measure to President Clinton for his expected signature. Long-term jobless people have had no extra benefits to turn to since the program expired Oct. 2. Every week since then, 60,000 Americans have used up their regular 26 weeks of unemployment coverage.

The victory was forged after two Democrats who missed Tuesday's roll call returned to the Capitol on Wednesday: Sens. Donald Riegle of Michigan and Patrick Leahy of Vermont. They were among 53 Democrats and eight Republicans who voted to end the blockade; three Democrats and 36 Republicans voted to keep the roadblock in place.

Republicans had complained that the $1.1 billion measure was to be paid for by dubious spending cuts and demanded that different savings be found. After a day of negotiations with congressional Democrats and Clinton administration officials, no changes were made, and most Republicans remained unhappy.

- Associated Press

by CNB