Senate Democrats are hoping to break a Republican filibuster today and approve extending unemployment benefits to millions of out-of-work Americans. If the Democrats secure enough votes, about 2.5 million people will receive jobless benefits retroactively, instead of being dropped from the federal program. On Monday, President Obama demanded the Senate take action.

President Obama: “It’s time to stop holding workers laid off in this recession hostage to Washington politics. 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. We need to pass those tax cuts for small businesses and the lending for small businesses.”