Some Missourians might soon be without their extended unemployment benefits

Roughly 23,000 Missourians still don't know whether they will see an unemployment check after April 3. The Senate adjourned for its legislative spring break Thursday [March 17] without voting on a plan to accept $81 million in federal money that would extend unemployment benefits from 79 to 99 weeks. Senate President Pro Tem Rob Mayer, R-Dexter, said he would have liked to see a vote on the plan before the break. "A few senators shouldn't hold up the progress of what's going on here and so if we have to use stronger measures we'll use stronger measures," Mayer said. Sen. Jim Lembke, R-St. Louis County, said he will continue to filibuster the bill if it is brought back up because he said it's wrong for the federal government to send borrowed money to the states. The Senate is scheduled to convene again on Friday, March 25.