WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today criticized attempts by Senate Republicans to prevent the extension of unemployment insurance and the COBRA subsidy for temporary health coverage. Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) has blocked an extension more than nine times in the past week.
"Unemployed workers should be able to focus on finding work, instead of worrying about how to afford medical care for their families. One man should not prevent hundreds of thousands of Americans from being able to afford temporary health coverage through the COBRA program. One man should not prevent 200,000 Ohioans from receiving the unemployment insurance they have earned. Republican efforts to gut these programs are unconscionable."
Nearly 200,000 Ohioans could lose unemployment benefits if the extension of unemployment insurance continues to be blocked this month. In addition, more than 232,000 Ohioans receiving extended benefits will be ineligible for the next phase of benefits if no extension is passed. An estimated 500,000 workers who lose their jobs will be ineligible for subsidies to help cover the cost of health care unless COBRA assistance is extended.
Brown is fighting for legislation that would extend unemployment insurance benefits and eligibility for unemployment health care benefits through the end of 2010, including extending benefits retroactively so families will receive the benefits that were suspended when these programs expired on February 28.
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