April 6: Sen. Brian Nieves speaks about unemployment benefits during a press conference in Jefferson City, Mo. (AP)
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Senate has passed legislation extending federally funded jobless benefits to thousands of people who were cut off from payments earlier this month.
The Senate's 28-5 vote Monday ratifies a deal struck last week to end a filibuster by several senators upset about the growth of federal spending.
The bill would renew Missouri's participation in a federal program that provides 20 weeks of additional benefits to people who have been unemployed for a year and a half. But the legislation also would reduce state-funded benefits by six weeks for people hired after the bill's enactment who later get laid off.
To become law, the bill still must pass a final House vote and be signed by Gov. Jay Nixon.
