Senators strike bipartisan jobless benefits deal

AZ Central:  WASHINGTON (AP) -- Chalk up one partisan election-year battle that senators seem likely to resolve when they return from recess later this month - the fight over renewing expired benefits for the long-term unemployed.

Bipartisan Senate negotiators said Thursday that they'd struck a $9.7 billion compromise over the issue, agreeing to a five-month extension paid for by boosting some federal revenues. Approval seemed likely by the Democratic-led Senate when it returns in late March from a weeklong recess. That would throw the issue into the Republican-run House, where its fate is uncertain.

Read article