After newly sworn-in Democratic Senator Carte Goodwin (a former counsel of popular West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin, who has announced he will run for the seat in a special election this fall), the Senate finally passed an extension of unemployment benefits which was blocked three times by Republicans and even for another 30 hours after it was obvious it was going to pass. The House of Representatives followed suit today and the checks will go out as President Obama swiftly signed it into the law.

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the nomination of Solicitor General Elena Kagan, with Sen. Lindsey Graham again being the only Republican to vote in favor of President Obama’s nominee. According to the Washington Post, the full Senate is expected to take up Kagan’s nomination after an energy legislation debate that should begin next week. A confirmation vote is likely in the first week of August, before Congress recesses.

Speaking of the energy bill, reports today sadly indicate that Democrats will be dropping the climate change measures because they do not believe 60 votes are there for passage otherwise.