Obama Faces Defeat Regarding Cobra Medical Insurance Subsidy
Posted on Fri, Jun 18, 2010
The 65% Cobra medical insurance subsidy that the government had been contributing for ex-employees' medical insurance premiums expired on May 31st, and Congress is not wanting to renew it, even though the President is pushing for it. About 1/3 of workers that were eligible had enrolled in the coverage that was subsidized.
Democrats have been divided on adding billions of dollars of costs to the growing federal deficit in a mid-term election year. Two Democrats, from Pennsylania and Ohio, have recently written a measure that costs $7 billion that would extend the program for people that lose their jobs through November 30th. This measure would extend unemployment and make numerous alterations in federal programs. Lawmakers are voting this week.