US Senate votes to extend jobless benefits – but would still need to pass lower house

• The US Senate (with some bipartisan support) has passed a bill to extend unemployment benefits.
• Vote was was 59-38. Six Republicans voted in favor. No Democrats voted against.

Don’t crack open the bubbly yet, though (or a tin of baked beans) …. John Boehner, the Republican Speaker of the House, has not said if he will allow a vote on the bill if it passed the Senate. US House leaders have said they want other job-creating measures to be included in any bill to extend jobless benefits.