Jobless aid set to expire despite House approval

[The Northerner]

* Jobless Americans face another disruption in benefits

WASHINGTON, May 28 (Reuters) - The House of Representatives on Friday passed a scaled-back economic-stimulus package of tax breaks and safety net spending that would raise taxes on fund managers and multinational corporations.

Democrats say the bill will help bring down the 9.9 percent unemployment rate, but it comes too late for hundreds of thousands of Americans who will see their jobless benefits expire starting next week.

The bill would extend benefits through November, but the Senate left town for a week-long break without taking action.

Democrats aim to restore the payments when they return the week of June 7. But the unemployed also face a permanent loss of health-care subsidies, which were stripped out of the bill to win the support of cost-conscious moderates.

Congressional wrangling has delayed jobless benefits at least four times in the past year. Democrats say they will restore the benefits when they return in early June.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2819109420100528?type=marketsNews