Reid Seeks Extension of Unemployment Benefits

Facing a Feb. 28 deadline, Reid hopes to pass two measures, one as soon as Tuesday. The first includes a 30-day extension of several of soon-to-expire provisions such as jobless aid, parts of the Patriot Act and prevention of cuts in Medicare payments to doctors.
The second includes a longer term measure. It is rumored that a top Reid aide is suggesting (on behalf of Reid) a full-year extension of unemployment insurance and a 65 percent health insurance subsidy for the unemployed through the federal COBRA program.

Reid dropped unemployment extension from the current Jobs Bill when he discarded an extension of more than 40 expired tax breaks.