Kentucky's Bunning again blocks jobless benefits

[sabra]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON – Sen. Jim Bunning on Tuesday again blocked the Senate from extending unemployment benefits and health insurance subsidies for the jobless.

The Kentucky Republican objected Tuesday to a request by Maine Sen. Susan Collins, a fellow Republican, to pass a 30-day extension of jobless benefits and other expired measures. The measure would also extend highway programs and prevent a big cut in Medicare payments to doctors.

Bunning has been single-handedly blocking the stopgap legislation since Thursday, to the increasing discomfort of Republicans like Collins. Collins said 500 people from her state would lose their unemployment benefits this week, while doctors will soon have to absorb a 21 percent cuts in their Medicare reimbursements.

"This issue is so important to senators on both sides of the aisle," Collins said.

...

Bunning said again Tuesday that he opposed the extension because it would add $10 billion to the budget deficit, and he attacked Democrats for abandoning promises to pay for legislation instead of contributing to a budget deficits projected to hit almost $1.6 trillion this year. Bunning proposes to pay for the extension with unspent money from last year's massive economic recovery package, but Reid objected.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100302/ap_on_go_co/us_budget_impasse

[Barack_America]

1. The loss of unemployment benefits disproportionately affects red and swing states.

Bunning and the GOP are cutting off their noses to spite their faces.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7825659

[gateley]

3. That's not surprising for some reason. Maybe because it's become obvious

that those who are in most need seem to be supporting the Repubs and Tea Party types.

What are the other Republicans saying about this? I would think they'd be yelling loud to try to distance themselves from him.

And what Kyl said! :shrug:

[Barack_America]

4. Collins asked him to stop and he basically reiterated his "tough shit" stance.

Collins said she was speaking on behalf of other Republican senators as well.

[gateley]

11. How do you think the other Rep Senators are taking this? He's not going to

run again, so he doesn't care, but I'm surprised the others don't come down on him HARD -- this has got to be affecting their standings, I would think.

What an awful person. And then there's Kyl's statement. Unbelievable.

[Barack_America]

18. TPM has an interesting take on that question.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/dems-united-republicans-split-by-bunning-benefits-blockade.php

Kyl's as much of an asshat as Bunning, I don't know what else to say about that. His statement reminds me of things like Bush's, "things have worked out quite nicely for them" BS regarding Hurricane Katrina refugees. Like that statement, Kyl's remarks regarding unemployment insurance were not something that anyone who has walked in those shoes would say. Interesting position for a man whose party is being overtaken by populists.

[gateley]

25. I think Kyl's statement is more despicable than Bush's. Bush was clueless and

stupid. Kyl is downright hateful if he believes shit like that -- and he's well aware he's spreading the fear and fanning the flame.

I'll check out the link -- thanks~!!

[gateley]

2. Is there NOTHiNG that can be done?

It just doesn't make 'sense' that one lone person can throw such a wrench into the works.

ARE we taking any steps? I'm so sorry for all the people affected.

[Lautremont]

7. There's one thing:

Hit the breaker on that senatorial elevator while he's between floors. Push some sandwiches and lemonade through the grate, but leave him in there for a good long time. There is nothing I can find in the senatorial rulebook which disallows this.

[gateley]

10. Boy, this has been an eye-opener for me. If someone would have told me something

like this could happen, I would have dismissed it as being absurd. It just SOUNDS impossible! Thanks!

[golfguru]

32. Naw...I abhor all violence!

[Igel]

19. Sure there is.

Schedule a vote. In other words, Reid has to decide that it won't all depend on unanimous consent. Reid will stop handing the power to a single person.

Entire thing could have probably been cleared up on Friday. Or Saturday. Or Sunday. Won't take long.

There are a few possibilities for Reid's actions: (1) There's something in Senate parliamentary procedure that's stopping him; (2) Reid can't figure out what he should do and he should immediately find someplace padded with nice attendants to retire to; (3) Reid has higher priorities than this legislation. (3) can include PR and politicking, having more important hearings, press conferences, debates, etc.

What's odd is that the choice of using approval by unanimous consent by some has been dubbed Bunning's choice; or to point out that Reid could have brought this to a stop before the benefits extension ran out is a "republican talking point." Of course, the first is a claim that the real chair of the Senate is Bunning--simply risible on its face. The second is to really base one's thinking on the belief that anything that it appears dems do wrong must be false, forced upon them, or part of a RW plot (which is also a risible claim). The only acceptable option is (1), and while I can't imagine what the obstacle could be, as I've said before, people have told me I don't really have much of an imagination.

[gateley]

26. I'm thinking it must be 1, too -- they had enough time to schedule the vote

if they could have. The outrage was loud and far-reaching so I'd assume they'd do something if they could have.

BUT, things always look simpler to those of us 'out here' than it often is in the unreal world of Congress, so there might be another reason of which we're totally unaware.

[winyanstaz]

21. Maybe even those of us not directly affected....

should get out and protest too....just a suggestion.

[gateley]

27. I'm not affected and I called both my Senators offices on this -- crickets. nt

[winyanstaz]

31. All I ever get back is a form email....

[Roland99]

5. Wonder if he'll block supplemental DEFENSE-related bills if they aren't "paid for"

pffft....wtf am I thinking?!?

[AllentownJake]

6. Fine 50% tax on retired baseball players earnings and pensions

We'll start paying for it there.

[daggahead]

8. Makes me think ...

He is the "Designated Douchebag" for the Republicons right now, much to the relief of John Boner and Mitch McConnell. Who will it be next and on what piece of legislation?

Sorry if I offended any douchebags.

[bluestateguy]

9. Another "deficit" alarmist

There is no consensus that the alleged problem of which Bunning speaks of even exist at all.

[Blue_Tires]

12. If Bunning can do this, part of me is pissed that no Dems did it during the Bush years...

[Tumbulu]

24. My exact thoughts (nt)

[SoapBox]

13. CONTACT Bunning here...

I posted this yesterday...but I'm going to email/call again today.

Email,
http://bunning.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.ContactForm

Phones,
http://bunning.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.OfficeLocations

[Igel]

22. Why?

First, the person who'll have to deal with you probably isn't a partisan staffer. More likely it'll just be the equivalent of a receptionist who has a sheet in front of him/her with a list of topics and "approve" and "disapprove" on separate lines. She'll listen to your message, put a mark in the appropriate place, and delete your message. The only thing you'll do is annoy somebody working in a low pay classification. It might even be a page. Whoopee.

Second, Bunning won't care. It's even unlikely he'll get much amusement out of it. Think of a housefly caught in a hold in a ship on its way to China. Surely there is one. Do you care about it? Are you going to spend much time worrying about it? Fretting over it? No. If it were buzzing in your face, you'd just want it gone. Since it's not in your face, there's not even the question, "What's that buzzing?" As far as Bunning is concerned you're that housefly.

In other words, you'll feel much better for actually annoying somebody that you have no beef with although you'll wrongly believe that you're annoying the somebody you actually do have a beef with.

[Bette Noir]

14. So what about putting it to a vote? 99 to 1 is filibuster proof.

[Flaneur]

15. This SOB needs to be the object of some direct action by his constitutents.

Like mass protests at his local offices. Sometimes an angry mob is just the thing.

[Duer 157099]

16. What is it about the two letters K and Y and assholery?

(oops, pun not intended by accepted)

We've got the K-Y Senator from KY being an asshole, and then we've got the K-Y-L Senator who is an equivalent asshole.

K-Y and Assholes just seem to go together.

[superconnected]

17. Wow, that guy is evil. Baaad karma.

[winyanstaz]

20. Time for the unemployed to march on his ass.

Get off your butts people..get out into the streets and protest.
(peacefully please)

[DesertDiamond]

23. I know where they can get the money! Rescind the tax cuts to the rich, TODAY.

[unabelladonna]

28. F-ing moron

!!!!!!!

[Hawkeye-X]

29. Please make Bunning a viral project - make him resign effective EOB Friday.

Spread the word, and watch the pitchfork and torches come to Bunning's office.

[Hawkeye-X]

30. Dupe

[golfguru]

33. I thought the Paygo bill requires all discretionary spending

to be paid for. Does any one know how this $10 Billion is to be paid?

[onenote]

34. there are a number of exceptions to paygo, including an exception for emergency legislation

which is what Congress has declared the short term extenders bill to be.

Surprised you didn't know that.

[golfguru]

35. extending unemployment is certainly emergency

I don't know a lot of things! DO not spend a lot of time
on political events.