PA’s Senators Split on Unemployment Benefits

Today, the Senate voted to extend long-term unemployment benefits to 1.3 million Americans, which expired at the end of last year. (Technically they voted to officially vote on it again, but this means the Senate has all but rubber-stamped the measure.) Either way Bob Casey was for, and Pat Toomey was against.

“I have voted to extend unemployment benefits beyond the 26 weeks in the past. Unfortunately, this bill does not address the underlying problem.  It does nothing to boost economic growth or spur job creation.  A better approach would be to address the Administration’s job-killing policies, such as Obamacare, the War on Coal, and our overly complex tax code,” Toomey said in a statement released Tuesday morning, shortly ahead of a key procedural vote in the Senate.

It’s true! Pat Toomey used to be for this kind of thing when George W. Bush was the one signing the bills! Senate and House Republicans say they’re open to a deal, but want Democrats to find a way to pay for it. [Inquirer]