Hoyer remains bully on extenders

The ‘doc fix,’ a term describing a delay in Medicare payment cuts to physicians, would go from 3-and-a-half years to 19 months in the House plan, or until December 2011.  

Extending unemployment insurance and the COBRA subsidy would only go through November to keep the unpaid portion of the bill below $100 billion. 

The tax portion of the bill would remain intact, meaning a permanent tax increase on carried interest and S corporations would become law. 

It is unclear if Senate Democrats would support these cuts, but some indication is needed before the House votes on the bill.

“That’s what we’re focused on, getting some assurance from those in the Senate that when we pass this legislation, that it will pass in the Senate,” said Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).  

It is equally unclear if House Democrats will support these changes. 

If this compromise does not pass muster, the prospect of passing a 30-day extension of unemployment insurance and COBRA, as well as other measures that expire in June, is a real possibility, sources told The Hill. But there is some concern that this bill would have problems passing the Senate.

Lauren Burke contributed to this story.