Obama Expected to Sign Extended Unemployment Benefits, Homebuyer Credit

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• JUDY WOODRUFF:

  That follows action in Congress to keep alive aid for the unemployed and tax breaks for homebuyers. Final action came today after weeks of delay.

  Ray Suarez has our report.

• RAY SUAREZ:

  Today's action came in the face of daunting numbers, 7,000 Americans exhausting their unemployment benefits every day, and 15 million people out of work. The bill that won final approval in the House was the fourth extension of benefits since June of last year.

• MAN:

  The gentleman from Washington.

  Democrat Jim McDermott of Washington State said there was no choice, with the unemployment rate still rising.

• REP. JIM MCDERMOTT, D-Wash.:

  We know it will take considerable time to restore those lost jobs. There are predictions that it will rise above 10 percent nationally, and will not come down until late in 2010. We must continue to provide the lifeline for the unemployed workers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own and who are searching for new employment.

• RAY SUAREZ:

  Nearly everyone in both parties accepted that logic. The vote was 403-12.

• MAN:

  The Senate amendment is agreed to.

• RAY SUAREZ:

  But Republicans like John Linder of Georgia also argued the Democrats' stimulus program has failed.

• REP. JOHN LINDER, R-Ga.:

  Another 263,000 jobs were eliminated in September, and the unemployment rose — rate rose to 9.8 percent. More jobs losses and higher unemployment are expected to be announced tomorrow. This and other Democrat legislation is perpetuating unemployment, not solving it.