Tyson Cowles knows exactly how long it's been since he had a job.

"Since right before Christmas," the Lansing man said.

The former GM contract employee said he's been searching and searching for new jobs.

"It's been rough," Cowles said, "dealing with depression, dealing with all the stuff going on. It's been really rough."

He said he's been relying on unemployment benefits until something breaks.

"I've already had one extension and that will get me through until the end of the year," he said.

But now it seems Cowles and the thousands of unemployed will get more time.

As things stand now, unemployment benefits last through 79 weeks.
The idea on the table in the US Congress, would extend those benefits an additional 20 weeks in the hardest hit states, like Michigan. If nothing happens, 100,000 people in this state will lose their benefits at the end of this year.

Most of Michigan's congressional delegation voted "for some type of extension including Rep. Mike Rogers and Rep. Mark Schauer.

Schauer told Newsten he considers this extension a type of stimulus -- money that helps unemployed families and the economy in the process.

But not everyone is so sure.

"The question is would 20 weeks make a difference when there isn't a job at the end of the pipeline? That's something to think about," Ross Wegryn-Jones of Dimondale said.

"I don't think they should do it at all," Barry Ford of Lansing said. "Somebody's got to pay for it. That means more and more people working have to pay more money."

Cowles knows it's not forever, but he said it sure helps in the meantime.

"Of course it needs to stop at some point, but here in Michigan, unemployment is so high, we need a little more time to get over this hump," Cowles said.

In September, the US House voted to extend unemployment benefits to the hardest hit states by 13 weeks.

The Senate's agreement includes a 14 week extension for all states, plus six extra weeks to the hardest hit states like Michigan, for a total of 20 weeks. The Senate is expected to vote on that version next week.

Then the House would have to vote on it too. Congressman Schauer expects it to pass and be on the President's desk in a few days.