WASHINGTON (AP) -- Senate Democrats are poised to finally clear a procedural hurdle today in their bid to pass an extension of jobless benefits.

Democrats have fallen short on several previous occasions but now are on the verge of breaking the GOP filibuster.

The vote is scheduled for shortly after the newest senator, 36-year-old Carte Goodwin, gets sworn in to succeed the late Robert Byrd of West Virginia. Goodwin will be the youngest senator. Byrd was the longest serving one.

Goodwin is expected to provide the 60th vote that Democrats need.

Republicans say they too want to get the money in the hands of the unemployed but believe Democrats should find a way to pay for the aid.

The benefits of about 2 1/2 million people have expired since early June when an earlier extension of ran out.

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