Moments ago, the Senate voted by an overwhelming majority for cloture on H.R. 3548, a federal unemployment benefit extension. While 85 lawmakers supported the procedural motion, only two Republicans -- Missouri Sen. Kit Bond and South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint -- voted against it. (The latter, who Rep. Peter Roskam has called "grounded" and "wise," represents a state with an unemployment rate of 11.6 percent).

After weeks of wrangling over amendments (some legitimate and others not so legitimate), debate has now been brought to a close. In 30 hours, the Senate can officially hold a roll call vote on the final version of the bill. 

UPDATE (5:42 PM): Here's Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), who helped broker a deal granting unemployment insurance to all Americans who have extended their benefits, pressing her colleagues to approve the final bill: