News 12 at 11 o'clock, July 22, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama has signed an extension of unemployment benefits for millions of long-term unemployed people, capping a hard-fought political fight with Republicans.

The president acted swiftly to turn the legislation into law
after the House approved it Thursday; the Senate approved it
Wednesday in a near party-line vote.

The measure restores unemployment benefits to people who have
been out of work for six months or more. That ends a a seven-week
interruption that caused 2.5 million people to lose unemployment
help averaging $300 a week.

Most Republicans opposed the measure because it would add $34
billion in debt. They said it should be paid for with unused money
from last year's stimulus bill or offset by spending cuts.