Sen. Kyl: Extended unemployment benefits to pass

[March 01, 2010]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Senate's second-ranking Republican leader says he expects GOP lawmakers will vote to extend unemployment benefits this week -- derailing a fellow Republican's objections.

Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona says the extension will pass, but only because it's temporary.

The benefits are part of a larger package of government programs that are expiring Sunday because senators couldn't agree on how to pay to keep them going.

Democrats couldn't overcome the objections of Republican Sen. Jim Bunning of Kentucky that the $10 billion measure would add to the budget deficit.

Kyl tells "Fox News Sunday" that a longer-term extension will cost much more -- and Congress must find a way to pay for it before Republicans will go along.

[Associated Press]

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