Pennsylvania Senate approves bill to keep emergency unemployment benefits

    The bill to protect emergency unemployment benefits in Pennsylvania now goes to Gov. Tom Corbett’s desk.

    Senators voted unanimously today to pass the bill the House signed off on Thursday, as the Associated Press reports. Corbett is expected to sign the measure.

    The bill maintains emergency federal benefits for the 45,000 Pennsylvanians already receiving them, and also extends the offer — an extra 13 weeks of benefits — to about 90,000 other qualified residents.

    Provisions of the bill include a move to reduce the cost of unemployment compensation system with limits on future increases of the maximum payment and a requirement that recipients  actively look for work while on the benefits.

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