Image of nurses' hands at computer keyboard

The Senate voted 60-40 Tuesday to end debate on a tax extenders bill, H.R. 4213. It is expected to approve the bill today.

The Senate was able to break a Republican filibuster of the extenders bill, which contains an extension of jobless benefits. That occurred just minutes after newly Carte Goodwin (D-WV) was sworn in as senator. Goodwin replaces the recently deceased Sen. Robert Byrd. Joining Democrats in the supermajority vote were Republican Sens. Olympia Snowe and Barbara Collins, both from Maine. Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) broke rank and sided with Republicans for the vote.

A previous version of the bill contained an extension of the increase in the federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP). Democrats and Republicans have been battling since February over the extension of unemployment benefits.