0719-Unemployment Benefits Vote Set for Tuesday

Over a million long-term unemployed Americans wait for tomorrow when the Senate for at least the fourth time in about a month, will vote on extending benefits to them through November 2010. The extension will cost about 33 billion dollars, and Republicans have blocked the vote or passage of the bill they say because there need to be spending cuts to offset the cost. The bill is expected to pass by one vote tomorrow when a replacement for Democrat Robert Byrd (West Virgina) is seated. The fight in the Senate comes at a time when jobs - or the lack of them - has become the hottest political card in recent history. The Great Recession has chipped away at millions of jobs, paving the way for a muted, slow recovery that still stands on uncertain ground. With millions of Americans out of work and most of them out of hope finding one anytime soon, the economy continues to sit in a catch-22 position. People can't spend if they don't have money and people can't have money if they don't have jobs. The solution, which has evaded all experts and politicians to date, is the urgent and immediate creation of millions of jobs - a job for any and all who want to work. The rocket scientist who does have the answer may be yelling to be heard, yet so far no one is listening.