Legislative Update: COBRA premium subsidy extended

Late this afternoon, the Senate, by a vote of 60 to 34, invoked cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R. 4851, the Continuing Extension Act of 2010. Among other items, H.R. 4851 provides a one-month extension of the COBRA premium subsidy through April 30, 2010. The extension would be retroactive until April 1. The Senate expects to take up the measure on Tuesday with a vote on final passage expected on Thursday. Four Republicans — Senators Scott Brown (MA), Susan Collins (ME), Olympia Snowe (ME), and George Voinovich (OH) — voted in favor of cloture on the motion to proceed.