Jim Bunning (R-KY) Blocks Unemployment Benefits Extension, Tells Dem 'Tough Shit' on Senate Floor

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Jim Bunning Repeatedly Blocks Unemployment Benefits Extension, Tells Dem 'Tough Shit'

First Posted: 02-26-10 09:20 AM | Updated: 02-26-10 10:05 AM

im Bunning, a Republican from Kentucky, is single-handedly blocking Senate action needed to prevent an estimated 1.2 million American workers from prematurely losing their unemployment benefits next month.

As Democratic senators asked again and again for unanimous consent for a vote on a 30-day extension Thursday night, Bunning refused to go along.

And when Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) begged him to drop his objection, Politico reports, Bunning replied: "Tough shit."

Bunning says he doesn't oppose extending benefits -- he just doesn't want the money that's required added to the deficit. He proposes paying for the 30-day extension with stimulus funds. The Senate's GOP leadership did not support him in his objections.

And at one point during the debate, which dragged on till nearly midnight, Bunning complained of missing a basketball game.

"I have missed the Kentucky-South Carolina game that started at 9:00," he said,
"and it's the only redeeming chance we had to beat South Carolina since they're the only team that has beat Kentucky this year.

The unemployment rate in Kentucky is 10.7 percent.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/26/jim-bunning-repeatedly-bl_n_477910.html

[Champion Jack]

1. How is it that one guy can block this?

[kenny blankenship]

8. The rich men who began this country and wrote its Constitution reserved the Senate

for people like themselves. In the Senate, one rich man who had bought his seat in government could veto the will of all the elected Representatives in Congress. He didn't have to stand for election like the President or the Congressmen, and his veto is not called a veto and it does not attract intense national attention like a Presidential veto. He just has to refuse to stop debating a given measure. That's the way the Founders wanted it. If they, and people of their class in the future, could say what the new government could not do in all cases, they could quietly control what it did do, while at the same time appearing to receive and enjoy the consent of the governed. Wiseguys. Because of its extreme anti-democratic nature the Senate has been constitutionally modified, but not enough. It still retains its pro-elite character by virtue of the long terms of Senators, the filibuster power which still remains and the enormous money it takes to run for the office. In the beginning, you got to be a Senator because your family had a lot of money which you spread around your state's legislature. In the "reformed" Senate you get to be a Senator because you have a lot of money to buy statewide political ads on broadcast media. The money now comes much more from wealthy donors than the individual Senator's pocket, but the Senate is still a millionaire's club, and the effect of the new financing is much the same as the old way: the Senator doesn't represent --and isn't even supposed to represent-- "the people" of his state. Senators represent the silent owners of America, state by state, sitting over top of the people's representatives, and deciding what they are and are not allowed to do.

[Jennicut]

10. Good background about the Senate.

It really remains the worst part of our govt.

[Champion Jack]

15. Thanks for this excellent explanation

[Jennicut]

2. He complained about missing a game? Hey, asshole. It is your job to debate

stuff. You make over $100,000 a year while other people without jobs have to hope their unemployment benefits are extended by the govt.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

4. It's a shame that every unemployed person in Kentucky won't read his remarks

I don;t know anything about Kentucky, its politics, or its level of political awareness.

But the odds are good that someone is sitting at home right now, worrying about how the hell they are going to pay the bills, and they haven't read their esteemed Senator's comments. They really deserve to know that he places a higher priority on a basketball game than on their quality of life.

[Jennicut]

11. I wish more people would realize exactly what their Repub Senators will all about.

The scary thing is some people do know but vote consistently against their own interests out of the belief that less govt. and less govt. spending is good. It is all a game, as we know that Bunning voted for Bush's tax cuts.

[kenny blankenship]

3. In all its variants, Republican political philosophy reduces to one elegantly simple principle:

FUCK YOU.

No, Republicans are not nice guys.

[jaxx]

5. Rat bastard.

Doesn't that extension have to be passed by the 28th?

[sharp_stick]

6. I could never be a Senator

That smug old asshole ever said that to me I'd punch him repeatedly in the face and maybe kick him in the nuts once or twice just to make sure my legs got a small workout too.

[tonysam]

14. I get SO mad at the Senate I can scream

Those archaic rules have delayed or ruined so much needed legislation. The idea ONE senator can play games like this is outrageous to me.

[KingFlorez]

7. Senile old bastard

[1776Forever]

9. Senate discussing this on C-Span this morning: link here

http://www.c-span.org/Watch/C-SPAN2_wm.aspx

[tonysam]

12. Thank GOD I was able to open a Tier III extension today!

I was number three on the list. I phoned in on the toll-free number for Nevada, since I am still stuck visiting my family and can't get back on the road until the roads clear.

[Arkana]

13. Burn in hell, Bunning, you rotten piece of dogshit.

[Missy Vixen]

16. It's time to find a challenger for his seat

Those of us who've been through a several-month period of unemployment would be happy to squeeze out whatever money we could to make sure Senator Bunning has all kinds of time to watch his precious basketball game in the future.

:grrr:

[BeyondGeography]

17. The Party of Tough Shit. Political gold.