Unemployment surged - again. May's jobless rate was 5.5 percent. Oil prices shot up to a record high - again. The price per barrel spiked $11 on Friday. Senate Republicans filibustered - again. This time they blocked action on global warming legislation.

The Economy The Labor Department reported on Friday that employers last month shed 49,000 jobs. The biggest jump in the jobless rate in more than two decades was the latest sign that workers face a gloomy outlook as they struggle with high energy prices and ripple effects of a housing slump. Senator Sanders has compiled "haunting" stories sent to him from Vermonters struggling from paycheck to paycheck, Valley News columnist John Gregg reported. "Over the years, Sanders has railed about wealthy and institutional forces conspiring to benefit themselves and, in the process, sticking it to the little guy…Reading these letters, the thought occurs that maybe more people should listen to him," John Gregg wrote. To read the column, click here. To read e-mails to the senator, click here.

Energy Prices The price of oil surged $8 a barrel Friday morning. It was the biggest gain in more than three months. The price hit a new record high above $136 a barrel after a Morgan Stanley analyst predicted prices could hit $150 by the Fourth of July. Sanders thinks predictions like that are a big part of the problem. Economists say about one-third of the price is due to speculators. "Wall Street firms are making billions of dollars as they drive up oil prices by buying, holding and selling huge amounts of oil," he said. "I will be working hard to pass legislation that reregulates trading in oil futures so that we end excessive speculation." To read more, click here.

Global Warming A sweeping plan to drastically cut U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions and limit the effects of climate change was defeated in the Senate on Friday. The 48 to 36 vote was 12 short of the number needed to bring debate to a close and vote on the bill. "Republicans have been successful once again in filibustering," Sanders said.