For those seeking benefits, see this note from the North Carolina Employment Security Commission: “On July 22, 2010, the extension of the Federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC08) program was signed into law. The new law extends the filing deadline, but it does not provide for additional EUC08 tiers. The ESC is working with the Department of Labor to implement this change as quickly as possible. If you are currently filing for benefits please continue to do so. If you are not currently filing for benefits our agency will notify you on how to reinstate your claim.”

On top of that, failure to pass the bills means states will not receive the much-needed $23 billion to pay for sharply rising Medicaid costs.  (The great recession has swelled the ranks of those eligible for health insurance through Medicaid.)  Without this money, states will be forced to impose even greater cut backs, which will mean lost jobs for teachers and other state employees.

Republicans say they oppose the bill on the grounds that it raises the deficit, but what they really oppose are the small tax increases (such as one on hedge fund managers) that would be used to pay for the bill.  Disappointingly, the NY Times notes that the “Obama administration has not fought aggressively for the legislation.”  It appears the President is not focusing on jobs, which should be his highest priority.

When it comes to paid maternity leave, the United States is in the postpartum dark ages.  One hundred and seventy-seven nations — including Djibouti, Haiti and Afghanistan — have laws on the books requiring that all women, and in some cases men, receive both income and job-protected time off after the birth of a child. But here, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 provides only unpaid leave, and most working mothers don’t get to stay home with their newborns for the 12 weeks allowed by the law. Many aren’t covered by the FMLA; others can’t afford to take unpaid time off. Some go back to work a few weeks after giving birth, and some go back after mere days.

The Senate has yet to act.  Because the unemployment benefits have expired, unemployed workers are losing benefits right now, and will cotninue to until the Senate passes a matching bill.  The N&O has this article on effects to workers in North Carolina.  It is imperitive that the Senate quickly pass a bill to extend the unemployment benefits program, and include an extension of COBRA benefits.  With the unemployment rate still near 11% in North Carolina, unemployed and uninsured workers cannot afford more delay from Congress.

Update: Congress has also passed a set of amendments to the act, completing the legislative saga.  The changes increase the levels of subsidies that will help moderate-income Americans afford private insurance, alter some of the taxes that help pay for the bill, and close the Medicare prescription drug doughnut hole among others.

On March 10, the Senate passed the Tax Extender Act of 2009, legislation that would extend until December 31, 2010 the 65% premium COBRA subsidies and emergency unemployment insurance benefits.  The bill now has to be reconciled with the version the House passed late last year.

The stress of losing a job is hard enough, and has been shown to create adverse health effects, but the least the government can do is provide unemployment benefits in a timely manner.  More coverage here and here.