Senate Democrats, with the help of only two Republicans, were finally available to break the deadlock over the extension of unemployment benefits.  President Obama signed the bill this past Thursday.  This bill provides a continuation of the program of extended benefits for those who exhaust the standard 26 weeks of unemployment benefits.  Coverage is here, here.  Although this bill is only a small part of the jobs-boosting agenda Congress needs to have, it was still vital for millions of unemployed having great difficulty finding a job in this broken economy.  For an example, see here.  Although there appears to be too much opposition for additional action on jobs right now, one hopes both parties will come to their senses and realize that the federal government can and must do much more to create sustainable employment growth.

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.”

Categories: Legislative Action Tags: Congress, Employment Security Commission, Extended Benefits, Job Creation, Labor and Employment, North Carolina, President Obama, Unemployment Benefits

Senate Republicans (with the help of one Democrat, Ben Nelson) have continued their filibuster of the Democrats’ jobs bill, mustering the 41 votes needed on Thursday to prevent the bill from passage.  Republican obstructionism will ultimately spell the end of extended unemployment benefits for millions, even as the economy is nowhere near creating significant job growth.

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.

Categories: Legislative Action Tags: Congress, Health Insurance, Jobs, Labor and Employment, Medicaid, President Obama, State Employees, Teachers, Unemployment Benefits, Unemployment Extension

After Democrats were once again able to overcome Republican opposition that was holding up unemployment benefits for millions of workers in difficulty, Congress passed an extension of emergency unemployment benefits, and President Obama signed it into law on April 15.  From the New York Times: “The measure, which would continue added unemployment benefits and other expired federal programs [such as the COBRA subsidy program] through May, will restore aid to thousands of Americans who had exhausted their benefits or whose eligibility was expiring. The legislation means that those out of work can receive up to 99 weeks of unemployment pay in some states. It will restore benefits to anyone who may have lost pay during a two-week interruption in the program.”

Categories: Legislative Action Tags: COBRA, Labor and Employment, President Obama, Unemployment Benefits

Yesterday, President Obama announced that he was bypassing the Senate and installing 15 appointees, including Craig Becker and Mark Pearce to the National Labor Relations Board.  As the NLRB has been working with only two of its five members, the installation of Becker and Pearce is certainly welcome news.  President Obama had nominated these highly qualified and well-respected lawyers last July, but Senate Republicans blocked their appointment process until now.

Categories: Legislative Action Tags: Craig Becker, Labor and Employment, Mark Pearce, NLRB, President Obama, Unions

On March 23, after the House and the Senate were finally able to resolve their differences, President Obama signed into law the landmark health care bill that promises to mark affordable health care a reality for all Americans.  Extensive coverage of the act can be found elsewhere, but this is a good summary of how it effects workers and individuals.

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.

Categories: Legislative Action Tags: Congress, Health Care, Labor and Employment, President Obama

On March 18, President Obama signed the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act (H.R. 2847, summary here), a $38 billion jobs bill comprised of several tax breaks and spending provisions to encourage employers to start hiring again.  The bill includes a one-year extension of the federal highway program, an extension of the Build America Bonds program that helps states finance certain infrastructure projects, and various tax breaks for hiring and retaining previously unemployed workers.

Categories: Legislative Action Tags: HIRE Act, Jobs, Labor and Employment, President Obama

On March 2, President Obama signed the Temporary Extension Act of 2010 (summary here), 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 after Republican Senator Jim Bunning finally abandoned his misguided efforts to block it.

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.

Categories: Legislative Action Tags: COBRA, Congress, Labor and Employment, President Obama, Unemployment Benefits

On December 21, 2009, President Obama signed a Defense Appropriations Bill, which also included two-month extensions for unemployment benefits and the 65% COBRA subsidy that was in the stimulus package.   Specifically, the act extended the COBRA premium reduction eligibility period for two months until February 28, 2010, and increased the maximum period for receiving the subsidy for an additional six months (from nine to 15 months). The Department of Labor has this useful fact sheet regarding the COBRA subsidy and its extension.

Categories: Legislative Action Tags: COBRA, Labor and Employment, President Obama, Unemployment Benefits

The Senate on Monday voted 72-to-16 to confirm Judge Andre M. Davis to a seat on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.  Judge Davis has been a judge since 1987, and a federal trial judge since 1995.  He was first nominated to the Fourth Circuit by President Clinton in 2000, wasn’t confirmed then, and was renominated by President Obama in April.

Judge Davis fills the first of what had been five vacancies on the Fourth Circuit.  Two judges from North Carolina, Judge Jim Wynn of the North Carolina Court of Appeals, and Judge Albert Diaz on the North Carolina Business Court, were nominated to the Fourth Circuit last week.  Their nominations are pending.

Categories: General News Tags: Fourth Circuit, North Carolina, President Obama, Senate