Democrats to give jobless benefits another vote

By ANDREW TAYLOR Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Millions of people stuck on the jobless rolls would receive an extension of unemployment benefits averaging $309 a week under a Senate bill that appears set to break free of a Republican filibuster.

Democrats have stripped the unemployment insurance measure down to the bare essentials for Tuesday's vote, which is a do-over of a tally taken late last month.

West Virginia Democrat Carte Goodwin, who is taking over the seat of the late Robert Byrd, is providing the 60th vote needed to vault the measure over the filibuster in a procedural vote.

If all goes as expected, about 2.5 million people will receive jobless benefits retroactively.