Senate OKs extension of jobless benefits

WASHINGTON -- The Senate passed a five-month extension of emergency federal unemployment benefits Tuesday, almost two hours after getting sworn in to the new 108th Congress with Republicans in control of both houses.

The $7 billion jobless assistance package was the first order of business for the Senate under its new majority leader, Bill Frist of Tennessee. The House was to take up the bill today, a day before it has to be signed by President Bush to avoid any delay in checks to about 750,000 jobless workers.

The extension covers only those workers who have exhausted 26 weeks of state aid but who still had not used all of their 13 weeks of federal aid when the program expired Dec. 28. Also covered will be another 2.5 million workers expected to exhaust their state benefits between now and June 1.

The Senate action on a unanimous consent motion was the most significant action on the first day of the 108th Congress, in which 11 new senators and 55 new House members took office.

The House elected Republican Dennis Hastert to a third term as speaker after House Democrats swore in as their new leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, the first woman to the head of a party caucus in either house.

In the House, Republicans will have a 229-205 margin, plus one independent, a six-seat GOP pickup. Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas, was installed as the GOP's No. 2 official as majority leader, replacing the retired Rep. Dick Armey, R-Texas.

Bush had urged Congress to act quickly on jobless benefits. He must have a bill to his desk by Thursday to avoid any disruption in benefit checks to workers.

"Good victory, first bill, passed," Frist said of his first legislative accomplishment in his new role. "They threw a little curveball, but we hit it out of the park."