For the third time in as many weeks, Senate Republicans were successful in filibustering a bill which would provide unemployment checks for millions of Americans. But since Republicans Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins switched to vote with the Democrats, the measure should pass next month once a replacement is selected for the late Senator Robert Byrd (giving the Dems a filibuster-proof majority). About 1.3 million people have already lost benefits since the last extension ran out in May. [AP]