Jim Bunning

Bunning Relents, Accepts Deal On Unemployment Bill

Rachel Slajda | March 2, 2010, 7:11PM

Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY)

Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) has accepted a deal to drop his one-man filibuster of a bill that would extend expiring unemployment benefits for hundreds of thousands of people.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's office has confirmed to TPMDC that Bunning accepted the deal, but declined to provide details.

Bunning, in exchange for dropping his objection, will get one vote on an amendment to pay for the bill, which will cost an estimated $10 billion. Bunning's amendment to pay for the bill will be the only amendment allowed on the floor. A final vote is scheduled to begin at 8:30 tonight.

Bunning will also get two votes on amendments for another bill which would extend unemployment benefits for one year, according to Roll Call. A spokesman for Reid would not confirm that detail.

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Unemployment benefits

Reid On Bunning: The GOP Has 'Gone Too Far'

Rachel Slajda | March 2, 2010, 2:50PM

Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told reporters today that Sen. Jim Bunning's (R-KY) blocking of a bill to extend employment benefits has taken GOP obstructionism "too far."

Bunning's reason for blocking the bill is "without any foundation of fact," Reid said.

"Now [Bunning] is out there lecturing the country on pay-go, something he didn't vote for," Reid told reporters after his weekly lunch with Senate Democrats. Reid also scolded Bunning for supporting tax cuts and two wars that added to the deficit.

Reid said the GOP has "gone too far" and is hurting thousands of Americans with obstruction.

"If there were ever an emergency this is it," Reid said.

Reporting by Christina Bellantoni

Filibuster

Bunning Keeps Blocking Unemployment Benefits Bill -- Even Though It Has GOP Support (VIDEO)

Rachel Slajda | March 2, 2010, 12:10PM

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid once again tried to bring a bill to the floor this morning that would extend unemployment benefits, this time enlisting Republican Sen. Susan Collins (ME) to introduce the motion for unanimous consent in an effort to convince Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) to drop his filibuster.

But Bunning continued to object.

Collins, introducing the motion, said it has support on both sides of the aisle, and added that Republicans wanted it done last week. Reid added that, "We need to vote," and pleaded with Bunning to drop his objection. Bunning has been holding up a vote on the legislation, which would extend jobless benefits past Feb. 28. The hold is affecting about 400,000 people, according to the Department of Labor.

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Unemployment benefits

Asked To Shame Bunning's Obstruction Gibbs Tells Press 'I'm Trying As Best I Can' (VIDEO)

Christina Bellantoni | March 2, 2010, 9:03AM

Press Sec. Robert Gibbs at the White House Press Briefing, March 1, 2010

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters during his daily briefing Monday that he's tried to shine a light on Republican obstruction and hypocrisy.

Veteran scribe Helen Thomas asked Gibbs why he doesn't "shame" Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) for holding up unemployment benefits.

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