Oregon Public Broadcasting

Democrats in the U.S. Senate were finally able to overcome opposition to extending unemployment benefits. A procedural vote took place within minutes after Carte Goodwin was sworn in to replace the late Robert Byrd of West Virginia.

The measure is expected to pass the full Senate and House Wednesday. It would extend unemployment benefits through November 30th of this year.   

Craig Spivey with Oregon Employment Department says the extension will provide a lifeline for Oregonians whose benefits ran out in May.

Craig Spivey: "For someone who is unemployed it means it's going to buy them more time to find that job that they need in what has been so far a very sluggish economy."

Oregon's unemployment rate is at 10.6 percent, which puts it in the top ten in the country. 

Spivey says state economists don't expect to see Oregon pull out the recession until the first or second quarter of next year.