Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) is the trendsetter in the GOP for blocking temporary extensions of unemployment benefits. Early in March, he blocked Democrats’ efforts to temporarily extend unemployment insurance benefits and COBRA subsidies for several days, before finally relenting. Then, before the Senate adjourned for Easter recess just over a week ago, he backed a similar effort spearheaded by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK). That effort has caused benefits to dry up, with unemployment still over 9 percent.
Now, Bunning says the whole thing is Democrats’ fault.
“Before the Senate adjourned for the Easter Recess, Senate Republicans and Senate Democrats had agreed to pass a one-week extension of unemployment benefits that was fully paid for,” reads an official statement from Bunning.
Unfortunately, the House Democrat leadership said no, and then Congress left town knowing the benefits would expire. Earlier, Senate Democrats voted to kill a one-month extension that was fully offset and did not add to the deficit.
We could have stayed in Washington to resolve the issue and see that these benefits are extended and paid for, but it seems the Democrats thought it was more important to catch their planes. I am disappointed that the Democrats continue to play political games to avoid paying for these benefits that are so important to the many struggling families across our nation who rely on them to make ends meet while they search for work. Clearly, the Democrats don’t want to help the unemployed unless they can increase the deficit while they’re doing it.
Bunning is correct to say that, citing the ongoing recession, Democrats rejected the GOP’s proposal to pay for a temporary extension with stimulus funds. But the Republicans using the Senate rules to hold up the extension are doing so despite the fact that a large majority in the Senate favors extending these benefits, regardless of whether they’re paid for. The first time around GOPers objected to an emergency extension 11 times. This last time, they objected five times.
In response, Jim Manley, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid whacks Bunning by name. “Another classic release from Senator Bunning,” Manley tells me. “Families across the country are struggling to make ends meet yet he continues to demand that an emergency extension of unemployment benefits be paid for. What in the world does he have against the working men and women of this country. His actions are inexcusable and irresponsible.”
Brian Beutler
Brian Beutler is TPM's senior congressional reporter. Since 2009, he's led coverage of health care reform, Wall Street reform, taxes, the GOP budget, the government shutdown fight, and the debt limit fight. He can be reached at brian@talkingpointsmemo.com.
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