So as a new Democratic senator will be sworn in to take the place of Robert Byrd, that won't temper Republican opposition to the bill.
President Obama says, "It's time to do what's right, not for the next election, but for the middle class. We've got to stop blocking emergency relief for Americans who are out of work. We've got to extend unemployment insurance."
The unemployment benefits expired in May.
As President Obama calls on Congress to pass an extension of the bill, Senate Republicans say it's time to be fiscally responsible.
"The same people who didn't have any problem spending hundreds of billions of dollars on tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans are now saying we shouldn't offer relief to middle class Americans," President Obama says.
Republican Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) put out the feelers on Facebook earlier.
His latest post reads, "Mr. President, why won't you agree to pay for unemployment benefits extension with unused stimulus funds?"
According to Cornyn's press secretary, the senator from Texas has supported numerous attempts to extend unemployment benefits, as long as they are paid for without adding to the deficit.
"The American people have had it with runaway federal spending, deficits and debt, and they want to begin to see men and women in Washington, D.C. begin to make the hard choices," says Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN).
Pence's colleague, Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC), says Congress must move forward.
"If we could just get the Senate to stop filibustering, give us the unemployment insurance for the American people, so that they can begin to continue to spend," Clyburn says.
The benefits would help out the 2.5 million unemployed Americans.
That translates to a cool $34 billion.
District 19 congressman Randy Neugebauer says, in a statement, he "cannot support a $34 billion bill that has not been paid for" and says Congress must make more "responsible decisions."
The Senate is expected to vote again on the issue Tuesday.
