Obama Signs Extension of Jobless Benefits

07/23/2010

The following article is from the NAHU Newswire 7-23-2010 edition:

With the media's glare squarely on another story, the President signing of a measure extending jobless benefits received muted coverage. NBC Nightly News (7/22, story 4, 2:20, Todd), for example, only mentioned the signing briefly, saying that the White House had "hoped" that the public's attention had been on "the President dealing with the fragile economy and signing into law...an extension of unemployment benefits for some 2.5 million Americans."

        The CBS Evening News (7/22, story 7, 0:15, Couric), noted that the bill "restores jobless benefits for 2.5 million Americans, and the first checks could go out next week."

        The AP (7/23, Taylor) reports that "Thursday's 272-152 House vote sent the bill to the White House." The President said in a statement, "Americans who are fighting to find a good job and support their families will finally get the support they need to get back on their feet during these tough economic times." The Los Angeles Times (7/23, Mascaro), the Washington Post (7/23, Montgomery), AFP (7/23) and Bloomberg News (7/23, Faler) run similar stories.

        Newly Unemployed Ineligible For COBRA Subsidy. Bloomberg News (7/23, Collins) reports, "US workers who lost their jobs as of June 1 won't be eligible for a 65 percent federal subsidy to help pay for health insurance under an unemployment bill Congress will send to President Barack Obama for signing." Because "eligibility for the financial help expired May 31, meaning workers who lost their jobs after that date don't qualify." But, people who are "already receiving the benefit may continue to pay reduced premiums for up to 15 months, according to the Department of Labor." One health expert said that "workers who lose their job and are no longer eligible for the health-insurance subsidy should check if they or their children may be eligible for other public aid such as Medicaid" and CHIP.