While the number of Americans filing first-time claims forunemployment benefits dipped last week to the lowest level in ninemonths, hiring is still very sluggish.The Federal Reserve thinks that the nation's recovery is still"restrained" and national unemployment could hover above 9 percentthrough 2010.

Until employers start to expand their payrolls, millions ofAmericans will remain reliant on unemployment insurance, benefits whichSenate Democrats are trying to extend this week. But Republicans keep mucking up the process, introducing semi-related amendments and calling for more debate about the bill's (H.R. 3548) funding source. As a result, workers who exhausted their benefits in September, including an estimated 20,000 in Illinois, may have to wait weeks for additional income.

Sen. Dick Durbin is not pleased with this development. On the Senatefloor last night, the majority whip scolded the GOP for effectivelyblocking the bill. "They want to drag it out," he said. "They have nosensitivity to these people who lost their job or are struggling tokeep their families together under the most difficult circumstances."Watch it:

UPDATE (1:15 p.m.): Here's some more video of Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) on the Senate floor today emphasizing the need to extend jobless benefits: