Senate Dems say jobless benefits bill on track

By ANDREW TAYLOR Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Senate Democrats say they are optimistic about restoring jobless benefits of up to 99 weeks for people struggling to find work and extending those benefits through Memorial Day.

Republicans want to force Congress to pay for the $18 billion measure without adding to budget deficits topping $1 trillion. Democrats say deficit-financed jobless benefits help pump up the economy. The impasse resulted in a cutoff last week that is forcing thousands off unemployment compensation rolls.

Extending unemployment benefits through Memorial Day would buy additional time for negotiators to work out a separate, more complicated bill that would stretch jobless benefits through the end of the year and revive expired tax breaks for individuals and businesses.