Unemployment benefits bill clears hurdle

Legislation to renew jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed has cleared an initial Senate hurdle, but the bill's fate remains in doubt.

The vote Tuesday was 60-37 to limit debate on the legislation, with a half-dozen Republicans siding with the Democrats.

At the same time, Senate Republicans served notice they would attempt to change the measure so the $6.4 billion cost would not add to deficits—a step that Democrats have so far rejected.

As drafted, the bill would restore between 14 weeks and 47 weeks of benefits averaging $256 weekly to an estimated 1.3 million long-term jobless who were affected when the program expired Dec. 28. Without action by Congress, thousands more each week would feel the impact as their state-funded benefits expire, generally after 26 weeks.

(Read more: Showdown set on unemployment bill in Senate)

—By The Associated Press.