by Calculated Risk on 12/19/2009 08:40:00 AM

The Senate passed another extension of unemployment benefits and Cobra insurance premiums this morning as part of the Defense spending bill. This bill had already passed the House.

In addition to the defense spending, the bill contained an extension of the date for qualification for existing tiers of unemployment benefits to Feb. 28th 2010 (previously only those losing benefits by Dec 31, 2009 qualified). Also the Cobra insurance premium subsidy was extended for two months.

This issue will be revisited early next year for those losing benefits after February.

From the WSJ: Senate Sends Defense Bill to Obama