The senate unanimously approved a bill earlier today extending unemployment weeks by at least 14 weeks across the country. Any state that has an unemployment rate worse than 8.5% will get six bonus weeks. And, lucky for us, New York’s unemployment rate is hovering above 9% so the gravy train will keep smoking down the line all the way to April. The bill, which will be rushed through the House and onto Obama’s desk as soon as Thursday, also extends the $8,000 first-time homebuyers tax credit and adds a second tax credit for anyone who has been in his or her home for more than five years to help get things moving in the housing market. More than one million Americans would have lost their benefits without the extension.

Senate passes bill extending homebuyer tax credit, unemployment benefits [WP]