Senate Votes to Advance COBRA, UI Extension Bill

After a two-week legislative recess, the Senate voted 60-34 on Monday to limit debate on the Continuing Extension Act of 2010 (H.R. 4851), a bill that would temporarily extend the 65 percent premium COBRA subsidy until April 30, 2010, and emergency unemployment insurance benefits until May 5, 2010. This measure cleared the House of Representatives by voice vote on March 17, but hit a stumbling block in the Senate when Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) objected to the fact that the cost of the bill was not fully offset. The Senate therefore failed to approve this emergency measure before the recess, allowing the UI and premium COBRA benefits to expire during the break. A final vote is not expected until later this week.

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