Senate filibuster temporarily delay's unemployment extension

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. A Republican filibuster of a Republican sponsored bill in the Senate on Tuesday delayed passage of a bill that would extend federal unemployment benefits for workers who've been out of work up to 99 weeks. Sen. Jim Lembke, R-St. Louis, said that Missouri should send a message about fiscal responsibility to the federal government by rejecting an $81 million extension, and led an hour and a half long filibuster of the bill along with Sen. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph, and Sen. Brian Nieves, R-Washington. But Senate President Pro Tem Rob Mayer, R-Dexter, challenged the Lembke's position. Although Mayer agreed federal spending was out of hand, he said this was the wrong bill to take a stand on and that many Missourians unable to find work could legitimately use the funds and that unused money would simply be redistributed to other states. The unemployment benefit extension bill has already passed the House of Representatives and is expected to easily pass the Senate when it comes up for a vote, likely this week.