2,000 federal employees are out of work without pay today as the direct result of Bunning's hold

[Amerigo Vespucci]

GOP senator’s hold puts 2,000 federal employees out of work

By The Associated Press
Monday, March 1st, 2010 -- 9:12 am

http://rawstory.com/2010/03/gop-senators-hold-puts-2000-federal-employees-work/



Two thousand federal transportation workers will be furloughed without pay on Monday, and the Obama administration said they have a Kentucky senator to blame for it.

Federal reimbursements to states for highway programs will also be halted, the Transportation Department said in a statement late Sunday. The reimbursements amount to about $190 million a day, according to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

The furloughs and freeze on payments were the result of a decision last week by Republican Sen. Jim Bunning to block passage of legislation that would have extended federal highway and transit programs, the department said. Those programs expired at midnight Sunday.

The extension of transportation programs was part of a larger package of government programs that also expired Sunday, including unemployment benefits for about 400,000 Americans.

Bunning objected to the $10 billion measure, saying it would add to the budget deficit. He didn't immediately respond to a request Sunday for comment.

[Dappleganger]

1. K&R

[Possumpoint]

2. You Won't Agree WIth Me But

I agree with him. Paygo was passed so that programs approved would be paid for. Choosing to ignore that by creating a false emergency by dilly dallying on an extension is an old political tactic. If it needs to be done, find the funds to do it. Unfunded government programs and entitlements have gone a long way towards creating the financial mess we're facing.

[asdjrocky]

3. You're joking right?

Do you even know someone on unemployment right now?

[Possumpoint]

6. If It Is

Important to do then pay for it. Not too hard to understand is it?

[asdjrocky]

9. You didn't answer my question.

[Possumpoint]

18. Yes

I know one person who lost their job 6 months ago. He works a series of part time jobs and hasn't drawn the first unemployment check.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

15. You're right, I don't

And you're making that statement from one of two possible stances.

One, you're employed.

Two, you're not.

Don't forget to add Bush's tax cuts to your list of things that went a long way towards creating the financial mess we're facing.

[twiceshy]

4. Good.......the number of Federal Employees Needs reduction.

When DC was shut down for 4-5 days did anyone notice a difference? I sure didn't. Unless we can return to a revenue-positive industrial society we acan't afford such a large government.

[asdjrocky]

5. Do you know anyone on unemployment?

Anyone at all?

[scorpiogirl]

8. I think you've landed in the Twilight Zone

My husband's been on unemployment off and on for 1 1/2 years. Hard enough without the thought of a gap in payments.

I guess 2,000 workers not getting a paycheck doesn't seem like a big deal to people who are getting a paycheck and probably haven't experienced unemployment, especially in today's job market.

Bunning is an asshole and this is a big deal. I had someone on another forum tell me that it was just a simple objection. I guess it seems simple when it has no personal affect on you or your quality of life.

[asdjrocky]

10. Thank you, I was starting to wonder where I woke up this morning.

Blue dogs and conservadems are everywhere.

[Jennicut]

19. You know, I don't agree with you all the time on everything but these

arguments against unemployment benefits is ludicrous. I mean, people lost their jobs mostly due to this crappy economy (thanks to many politicians in power and their policies) and then get screwed over again with this being held up by Bunning. Where is the logic that this is okay??? It makes me sick. I at least consider myself a liberal.

[twiceshy]

16. Yes me...........

I was unemployed from Jan to Jul 2009. So I know it sucks, but I still don't think govenment employment is the way out of this mess. Here's a thought experiment, if 50% of the working population were government employees regulating the other 50% of private employees, would that create a vibrant economy?

[asdjrocky]

17. That's a really dumb thought experiment.

Tell me, when you were unemployed, did you have one Senator stand up and make sure you did not get your benefits?

Sell it somewhere else.

[spanone]

7. well i would guess those unemployed by a 4 or 5 day shutdown noticed a difference.

i would wager a guess that you weren't one of them.

[alfredo]

12. During the 2001 to 2008 period, government was one of

the biggest employers. Government employment kept the unemployment numbers lower. It didn't fit with the small government propaganda out of the GOP, but it put people to work.

Now with a recession, we can't just throw these people into the streets. Either pay them for constructive work, or pay them with unemployment benefits. bunning wants high unemployment because it breeds dissatisfaction with government, and it also puts more power into the hands of business. It puts them into a position of power when it comes to negotiation of wages and benefits.

robber baron:


1. One of the American industrial or financial magnates of the late 19th century who became wealthy by unethical means, such as questionable stock-market operations and exploitation of labor.

2. A feudal lord who robbed travelers passing through his domain.

[asdjrocky]

13. ...

[Ikonoklast]

14. You must be kidding.

Fine.

Start with the massive military spending.

[alfredo]

11. It was on our local news today in Lexington Ky.