» Legislative Action

Senate Republicans have once again blocked a much-needed extension of unemployment benefits, ignoring the needs of millions of workers that rely on those benefits. This time, it is Oklahoma Republican Tom Coburn who has single-handedly denied workers… Read More

Yesterday, President Obama announced that he was bypassing the Senate and installing 15 appointees, including Craig Becker and Mark Pearce to the National Labor Relations Board. As the NLRB has been working with only two of its five members, the inst… Read More

On March 23, after the House and the Senate were finally able to resolve their differences, President Obama signed into law the landmark health care bill that promises to mark affordable health care a reality for all Americans. Extensive coverage of… Read More

On March 18, President Obama signed the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act (H.R. 2847, summary here), a $38 billion jobs bill comprised of several tax breaks and spending provisions to encourage employers to start hiring again. The bi… Read More

On March 2, President Obama signed the Temporary Extension Act of 2010 (summary here), a bill that will extend the 65 percent premium COBRA subsidy through March 31, 2010, and unemployment assistance benefits through April 5, 2010. The Senate passed… Read More

Inexplicably, Republican Senator Jim Bunning has held up a much-needed extension of unemployment and COBRA benefits. Bunning has single-handily blocked a vote on a 30-day extension by being the only senator to oppose a unanimous consent motion to vot… Read More

The Obama administration proposed new rules recently that should improve insurance coverage of mental health care for more those fortunate to have medical insurance through their jobs. The rules implement the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental H… Read More

Yesterday, Michael Okun spoke in front of the North Carolina Legislature’s Joint Study Committee on Work and Family Balance. Mike presented an overview of employment law, the specific laws that assist employees in caring for family members and… Read More