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The Senate on Thursday voted 59-38 to pass legislation that would provide another temporary extension of emergency the 65 percent premium COBRA subsidy, both of which lapsed over the recent legislative recess. The Continuing Extension Act of 2010 (H.R. 4851) was approved with an amendment (S. Amt. 3721.pdf) in the nature of a substitute bill introduced by Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT), which will extend the COBRA premium assistance through May 31, 2010. The original bill – which cleared the House by voice vote on March 17 but stalled in the Senate over how the measure would be paid for – provided for extensions of these benefit programs through April 30.
The additional time is needed, according to lawmakers, because longer COBRA premium extensions – which are included in the Tax Extender Act of 2009 (H.R. 4213) – are unlikely to be finalized before the end of the month. The Senate passed this bill in March, but will need to reconcile its terms with the House-approved measure and voted on again before it can be signed into law. Read more about the legislative activity surrounding the COBRA extension at Littler's D.C. Employment Law Update blog.
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