This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Washington • The Senate plunged into an election-year session Monday beginning with a slow-motion struggle over legislation to renew lapsed jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed. A test vote on the unemployment bill was postponed at the last minute until Tuesday morning at the behest of Republicans, who noted that more than a dozen lawmakers had been unable to return to Washington because of bad weather. Democratic supporters of the three-month extension of jobless benefits said they were close to the 60 votes needed to advance the White House-backed bill. Their chances hinged on securing backing from at least four Republicans in addition to co-sponsor Sen. Dean Heller of high-unemployment Nevada.
The Associated Press