WASHINGTON (PAI)--With unemployment expected to stay high at least through the first part of 2010, the Democratic-run Congress again extended jobless benefits.  Democratic President Barack Obama signed the legislation on Nov. 6.

    Senate Republicans delayed the benefits extension for a month by trying to attach unrelated proposals to it.  In the end, they failed, and the bill passed 98-0 in the Senate and with only a handful of GOP foes in the House. The vote there was 403-12.

    The extension gives jobless workers, including those whose benefits have run out, 14 more weeks-20 more weeks of federally funded jobless benefits, depending on jobless rates in individual states.  It means long-term jobless workers could get combined state and federal benefits totaling up to 99 weeks.