Senate Reaches Deal to Extend Jobless Benefits

Under the deal, the unemployed in all 50 states would receive an additional 14 weeks of benefits. Those workers in states with an unemployment rate at 8.5 percent or higher would receive an additional six weeks on top of that.

Last month, the House approved legislation that would give 13 weeks of extended benefits to the unemployed. However, that was restricted to those that have unemployment rates of at least 8.5 percent.

Senators argued that it was unfair to provide added assistance to workers in one state and not in another. The deal follows a report from the Labor Department earlier Thursday that showed an unexpected drop in new claims this week, but a number still higher than a health economy would support.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), tried to bring the measure to a quick vote on the Senate floor, but the GOP objected. They said they needed more time to study the proposal and its costs.