Deal ahead for MLB workers

For those keeping score in MLB -- that's Major League Business; we're not ESPN -- a quick update: The Senate will likely vote next week on a bill to extend unemployment benefits by as much as 20 weeks (or 14 weeks in those states with a "manageable" jobless rate of 8.5% or less). The House has already pushed through an extension act granting an additional 13 weeks in high unemployment states. If the Senate bill is passed, the two halves of Congress must hash out a middle-ground bill for the president to sign.

The extra benefits -- crucial to the estimated 7,000 unemployees who, each day, hit the end of their benefit period -- are to be funded by extending certain business employment taxes through June 2011. It's getting late in the game, so let's get this thing worked out, politicos!

--Posted by Todd Obolsky, Vault Staff Writer