Obama signs bill temporarily extending COBRA, unemployment benefits; longer extension being considered

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.