Home 
WASHINGTON DC, United States?The US Senate on Wednesday adopted a $140-billion raft of measures aimed at shoring up unemployment benefits and setting out tax breaks to spur job creation.
The draft bill prolongs aid for those out of work and medical coverage until December 2010, and was approved after a week of intense debate by 62 votes in favor to 36 against.
"We will continue with our jobs agenda and hope for bipartisan support to help middle-class Americans in these difficult times," the Senate's Democratic Party majority leader Harry Reid said.
Last week an emergency bill to extend jobless benefits for 30 days was held up for several days by Republican Senator Jim Bunning, who used delaying tactics to block the legislation.
Wednesday's plan also extends tax deductions for companies to help them finance research as well as tax cuts for restaurant and store owners.
It also includes "a tax cut to help families afford college tuition, so our young people can get the world-class education they deserve without going broke," the text said.
The United States is battling one of its worst economic downturns in decades, which has seen unemployment soar to its current level of 9.7 percent.
The bill will now go to the House of Representatives for a vote.
Critics say the proposals will only deepen the yawning US deficit by some $100 billion, something slammed as "irresponsible" by Republican Senator Chuck Grassley.
