Unemployment extension passes House

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36576068/ns/politics-capitol_hill/

updated 20 minutes ago

Extension will pay for unemployment insurance through June 2

WASHINGTON - The Senate and House passed an $18 billion bill on Thursday to restore unemployment benefits for people who have been out of a job for months and resume Medicare payments to doctors about to absorb a 21 percent cut.

After the Senate passed the measure, the House followed suit and sent it for President Barack Obama's signature Thursday night.

The vote comes as welcome relief to hundreds of thousands of people who have been ineligible to reapply for additional weeks of benefits after exhausting their state-paid benefits. They will be able to receive those checks retroactively under the legislation.

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