Unemployment benefits expire for thousands

[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i.l.cnn.net/cnn/2008/LIVING/worklife/09/29/cb.job.searching.recession/art.job.recession.gi.jpg caption="Benefits for many Americans seeking jobs will expire today."]

Brianna Keilar
CNN

Extended unemployment benefits will temporarily expire for thousands of Americans on Monday because the Senate went on its spring recess without approving a one-month deadline extension.

The extension, which had bipartisan support, would have cost about $10 billion, but a lone Republican, Sen. Tom Coburn, said no until the costs are offset.

The Oklahoma senator objected to a commonly used unanimous-consent agreement to pass the bill under emergency conditions, even if it increases the federal deficit. Coburn wants to eliminate additional government spending to pay for the bill.

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