There is expected to be another vote, perhaps as early as Wednesday, by the house as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid filed a motion to force another extension vote by Thursday. If the payments are not continued for the unemployed in the US, more than 200,000 people would have payments phased out within a week. The previous extension ended in May and more than a million people have lost their unemployment benefits.

The bill was brought to vote under a special procedure that did not allow other amendments to the bill. It needed two-thirds majority to pass. The vote came in at 261-155, just short of the numbers needed. Had it passed, the move would have provided up to 99 weekly unemployment checks for people who had run out of the 26 weeks of state-paid benefits. The average amount of $335 and the payments would stretch out through the end of November. The total cost of the extension comes in at $33.9 billion. The costs of the bill would be added to that budget deficit.

Some lawmakers feel it is difficult to help those citizens hit by the recession. They fear they will be labeled as ‘big spenders’. Rep. Dave Camp (Michigan), the top Republican on the Ways and Means Committee stated “The American people know it isn’t right to simply add the cost of this spending to our already overdrawn national credit card. They want to help those in need but also know that someone has to pay when government spends money.”

The unemployment rates in the US are still up event though the economy is showing signs of recovery. A loss of more than 8 million jobs has taken its toll but the concern about the national deficit is at the forefront of many minds.

Unemployment Benefits Extension Rejected by the House Tuesday was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

There are several simple things you can do in your home now that involves some of your time and a little extra money. Here is a list of efficiency improving steps to save you cash.

Insulation – Make sure our home is thoroughly insulated, especially those located next to unheated areas of the home such as the attic, basement, or garage.

Temperature – Keep your thermostat set around 65 to 68 degrees any time you leave the house for a time period over eight hours. Invest in a thermostat that allows you to program times for turning on and off.

Replacement Parts – To increase heating and cooling efficiency in your home, make sure you regularly change your air filters.

Air Circulation -  Employ ceiling fans to both cool your home in the summer and use the reverse fan setting to keep warm air circulating lower to the ground in the winter.

Fix Up the Windows -  Use a candle to detect any drafts around windows and doors. Weather stripping or caulking windows works well to keep out the drafts.

Move the Curtains – During colder months, shut curtains and blinds during night time hours to keep out the cold. Keep them open during the day to allow sunlight to naturally warm up the inside.

Air-Tight Windows – For an additional expense, investing in weather-insulated windows that have double panes to keep heat inside the house during the winter but keep it out during the summer.

Low Flow Flushing – The one convenience at home that uses more water than any other is the toilet bowl. A cheap fix can be achieved by using a plastic capped jug filled with water and place it into the water tank to increase the volume of the water. A more expensive, but long-term beneficial solution is replacing an old toilet with a low flow variety, which uses only half as many gallons of water.

Water Heater Options – Keep your water heater set at 125 degrees. Utilizing an insulated blanket wrapped around both your water heater and pipes helps to keep in the heat is the cheapest alternative.

More expensive options include:

• A programmable timer that heats water during the times hot water is most often used
• Investing in a water heater with a high Energy Factor rating
• Consider investing into an on-demand heater that provides lesser amounts of water being heated each minute.

Home Efficiency Improvement Tips for the Home was created by and is property of American Consumer News.