By Jackie Simmonds, NEJS Blog Editor

FINALLY!!! Tradingmarkets.com reports the Senate voted Tuesday evening to approve a 30-day extension of unemployment benefits, health benefits, and other expiring provisions enacted under the government’s economic stimulus plan.

This bill extends benefits for the jobless one month, including subsidies to help the unemployed buy health insurance, as well as postpones cuts in Medicare reimbursements in doctors. It also releases highway money, the delay of which forced the Transportation Department to furlough 2,000 employees. The package will also extend Medicare physician payments and flood insurance programs.

The 78-19 vote in favor of the extension came after Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ken., agreed to allow the vote to proceed after single-handedly blocking the legislation since last Thursday.  Following the vote, President Barack Obama quickly signed the bill into law, saying, “During these difficult economic times, supporting American workers, their families and our small businesses must be everyone’s focus.”

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said, “Today’s short-term extension of these programs gives those affected Americans peace of mind and allows the Senate more time to work together on a long-term extension of these critical programs.”

ABC News reported that under the deal, Senator Reid agreed to allow a vote on a measure to off-set the bill’s $10 billion cost with cuts in other programs.  The off-set measure is expected to fail.  So, despite Bunning’s efforts, the unemployment extension bill will not be paid for.

For the time being those whose extended unemployment benefits were approaching the end of a tier can breather a little easier.