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

In a vote Thursday night, Senate Democrats were unable to overcome the Republic filibuster of the bill that contains the much-needed extension of unemployment benefits.  Even though the cost of the bill had been reduced to alleviate the (misguided) concerns of increasing the federal deficit, all Republicans and two Democrats maintained their opposition.  This bill would not only extend emergency unemployment benefits, but also provide aid to states for health care costs, and pay for that spending with increased taxes on oil companies and hedge fund managers.  Hard to argue with those ideas.  More coverage here.

Categories: Legislative Action Tags: Congress, Labor and Employment, Senate, Unemployment Benefits, Unemployment Extension

On May 28, 2010, the House passed a watered-down jobs bill. It extends the extra unemployment benefits program for another six months, though those benefits have now expired as of the end of May. Very significantly, the House bill did not include an extension of the expanded COBRA program for health insurance.

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.

Categories: Legislative Action Tags: COBRA, Congress, Labor and Employment, North Carolina, Unemployment Benefits

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

The New York Times has a very useful article on COBRA, and how it is affected by the recently-enacted health care reform act.  It starts:

“If you’ve recently joined the ranks of the unemployed or are worried that you soon will, you may be wondering if the sweeping new health law will help you. Will you, for instance, still be able to get health insurance under the government-mandated Cobra program? If so, for how long? And at what price?”

Categories: General News Tags: COBRA, Health Care, Labor and Employment, Unemployment Benefits

Senate Republicans have once again blocked a much-needed extension of unemployment benefits, ignoring the needs of millions of workers that rely on those benefits.  This time, it is Oklahoma Republican Tom Coburn who has single-handedly denied workers benefits.  From the New York Times: “As a result, some people who have been out of work for more than six months will at least temporarily lose benefits. Health insurance subsidies for the jobless will also expire.”

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

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

Inexplicably, Republican Senator Jim Bunning has held up a much-needed extension of unemployment and COBRA benefits.  Bunning has single-handily blocked a vote on a 30-day extension by being the only senator to oppose a unanimous consent motion to vote on the bill, which was passed earlier by the House. The extended benefits are scheduled to expire today.  Thousands may lose benefits because of Bunning — how many depending on how quickly Democrats can force a vote on the bill.  This callous disregard of the needs of working class Americans is outrageous, as are Senate rules which allow a single Senator to hold up such essential legislation.

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.

Categories: Legislative Action Tags: COBRA, Congress, Labor and Employment, 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