Economic Checklist: Daunting

Legislative Goals Top on Democrats' list is renewing the emergency aid to individuals offered in the stimulus: increased levels and duration of unemployment insurance benefits to those still out of work when their standard benefits expire, and subsidies for laid-off workers who opt to continue their employer-sponsored health insurance for up to 18 months at their own expense (as allowed under the 1986 Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, known as COBRA). First lien-holders often refuse to modify a mortgage if the second lien-holder won't do likewise -- but the latter have been unwilling to budge.