Obama Signs Bill Temporarily Extending COBRA, Unemployment Benefits
On Tuesday, President Obama signed the Temporary Extension Act of 2010 (H.R. 4691), a bill that will extend the 65 percent premium COBRA subsidy through March 31, 2010, and unemployment assistance benefits through April 5, 2010. The Senate passed this bill by a vote of 78-19 after Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) – who objected to how the measure would be funded – abandoned his efforts to block it. The House of Representatives approved this emergency spending measure by voice vote last Thursday. Both benefits had expired on February 28.
Meanwhile, the Senate is set to consider longer COBRA and unemployment insurance extensions. On Monday, Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) introduced a $150 billion bill that would extend these benefits through December 31, 2010, as well as continue certain programs aimed at providing pension-funding relief, among other benefits. The American Workers, State and Business Relief Act of 2010 (pdf) was introduced as an amendment (S. Amt. 3336) in the nature of a substitute to the Tax Extenders Act (H.R. 4213). The tax extenders bill will now serve as the Senate vehicle to provide longer extensions to these and other expiring tax programs.
For more information on the Temporary Extension Act of 2010, see Littler's ASAP: COBRA Subsidy Extended and Expanded by Steven J. Friedman.
On Thursday evening, the House of Representatives approved by voice vote the Temporary Extension Act of 2010 (