By Kevin Diaz Even with unemployment dipping below 8 percent in Minnesota, Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken seem well versed in the idea that the Great Recession isn't over for any voter who's still out of work. That came through in a pep rally Tuesday in the U.S. Capitol, where Klobuchar, Franken and others tried to shame their Republican colleagues into undiluted support for a 14-extension in unemployment benefits. Far from rallying around the measure, the Democrats contend, Republicans are bogging it down with extraneous amendments related to ACORN funding and real estate tax credits. "While Wall Street is raking in the money again, and the Dow went over 10,000, how can you say no?" Klobuchar said. "This just makes sense," Franken said. Some 13,754 Minnesotans could benefit from the Democrats' unemployment bill. But amid the urgency, the Democrats seem reluctant to put their measure to the filibuster test. Sure, they theoretically control the 60 votes necessary. But Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., said the process would take "days and days."
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