The Jackass of the Day is given to a person, persons, groups, organizations, or corporations that have shown incredible stupidity, carelessness, and/or heartlessness.
Senator Jon Kyl, a Republican whip from Arizona, was against an extension of unemployment benefits. As a matter of fact Kyl believes that giving people their unemployment benefits will make them lazy and not want to work. He says it “doesn’t create new jobs. In fact, if anything, continuing to pay people unemployment compensation is a disincentive for them to seek new work.” (source)
Kyl also wanted to make sure that the unemployment benefits would be paid for with the money the government has. Kyl doesn’t think that war should be paid for with the money the government takes in. He is more than happy to go in debt for trillions for unnecessary Empire wars.
Kyl also thinks that it is fine to extend the Bush era tax cuts for the wealthy even though it costs the government $678 billion.
“Surely Congress has the authority — and it would be right — if we decide we want to cut taxes to spur the economy, not to have to raise taxes in order to offset those costs. You do need to offset the cost of increased spending. And that’s what Republicans object to. But you should never have to offset the cost of a deliberate decision to reduce tax rates on Americans.” (source: raw story)
In other words, tax breaks for the wealthy are great even when the government is in deep debt over Bankster Bail-Outs to the wealthy. According to Kyl, To pay for these bail outs and tax breaks the government needs to take away or cut things like unemployment benefits and social security.
http://blogs.alternet.org/grantlawrence/2010/07/11/jackass-of-the-day-jon-kyl-huge-tax-breaks-for-wealthy-must-continue/