More than 2 million Americans have lost unemployment benefits and that number will continue to rise if the Senate can’t pass a bill.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) needs one more vote — most likely the interim replacement for Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), who died June 28 — but that vote may not arrive on Capitol Hill until late this week or early next.
So Reid will need to wait to push through the $34 billion bill until West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin names that person, aides reconfirmed today.
Manchin had said he would appoint someone by Monday but has since pulled back from that statement. He has called a special legislative session for Thursday to set up the special election process for Byrd’s seat.
Although Manchin’s plans are unknown, he could wait until after the special election rules are settled before naming someone to Byrd’s seat.
