Jim Bunning Stands Ground, Takes Heat

(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Sen. Jim Bunning, R- Ky., is being harshly criticized for his decision to block the short-term extension of health insurance benefits set to expire Sunday.

"Right now a single Republican is blocking the extension of unemployment insurance which means if he succeeds one million people, one million people next month will be thrown off the unemployment rolls," Vice President Joe Biden said, according to Fox News.

Biden added that as a result of Bunning's move "one million people will be thrown into nothing but despair."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, meanwhile, said "it is really hard to understand why one senator in the United States Senate is holding up the extension of unemployment insurance at this time."

"But he is, and I'm pleased that the Senate Democrats are trying to make a move to dislodge that," she added, Politico reports.

Bunning objected to Senate passage of a one-month extension of government benefits, including unemployment benefits, COBRA health care benefits and the Medicare Doctor fix. Democrats pressured the senator to relent on Thursday and Friday, but he refused. Bunning is acting without the support of his fellow Republicans, and Democrats are casting him as out of touch with regular Americans.

At one point, Bunning, who is not seeking reelection, said "tough s—t." He also reportedly "complained he had been ambushed by the Democrats and was forced to miss the Kentucky-South Carolina basketball game."

Bunning says he wants to renew the programs, which costs 10.3 billion, but only once they are adequately paid for. (He advocates using stimulus funds.) Democrats are expected to vote to override his block early next week. The Senate could use procedural motions to pass the short term extensions on Tuesday. The House passed the package Thursday night.

Unemployed Americans could still file for this week's benefits Sunday and Monday, but without an extension benefits for next week would be affected.

CBS News Capitol Hill Producer John Nolen reports that short term extension bill includes:

•Unemployment insurance: extends unemployment benefits increased payouts and longer duration of benefits through April 5
•Health Insurance COBRA benefits: extends COBRA health insurance subsidy through March 28
•Medicare doctor Payment: delays a scheduled cut in Medicare physician payments through March 28
•Highway funding: highway project funding through March 28
•Flood Insurance: extends National Flood Insurance Program through March 28
•Satellite Television: extends copyright license used by satellite television providers through March 28.

[1fedupdude]

Once a person?s enjoying the fruits of government welfare and entitlements he couldn?t give a hoot about the general societal interest; he?s got his, and to hell with everyone else. People?s sense of entitlement endures long after the entitlement has ceased to make sense.

I want my benefits. And, if it bankrupts the entire state a generation from now, who cares as long as they keep the checks coming.

This out of control government is only the symptom, The problem, the disease is really: We the People! We have lost our ability to be truly accountable for ourselves!!!

[1fedupdude]

Sorry about the repeats The post didn't show up at first.

[1fedupdude]

Once a person?s enjoying the fruits of government welfare and entitlements he couldn?t give a hoot about the general societal interest; he?s got his, and to hell with everyone else. People?s sense of entitlement endures long after the entitlement has ceased to make sense.

I want my benefits. And, if it bankrupts the entire state a generation from now, who cares as long as they keep the checks coming.

This out of control government is only the symptom, The problem, the disease is really: We the People! We have lost our ability to be truly accountable for ourselves!!!

[1fedupdude]

Let me preface this by saying I have been out of work for nearly a year. At what point do we begin to let it sink in that this country is broke? I agree with the previous posts that our government is being run by the scum of the scum, but whose fault is that? We the People. We continually vote for the thieves that promise to give us the most by raiding the public coffers as if it was a magic endless supply of money. Bailouts, cash for clunkers, cash for caulkers, grants and on and on. We have run out of people to rape & pillage. When do we take responsibility for ourselves!

Ignorance is running rampant in this country!
The calamity is upon us, We have no money to give, yet the people continue to line up to the feeding trough. We don't care where the money comes from just keep giving it to us. My God!

[1fedupdude]

Once a person?s enjoying the fruits of government welfare and entitlements he couldn?t give a hoot about the general societal interest; he?s got his, and to he## with everyone else. People?s sense of entitlement endures long after the entitlement has ceased to make sense.

I want my benefits. And, if it bankrupts the entire state a generation from now, who cares as long as they keep the checks coming.

This out of control government is only the symptom, The problem, the disease is really: We the People! We have lost our ability to be truly accountable for ourselves!!!

[Time2Panic]

Did you lose everything you ever had with crooks like Enron, Lay, Skilling & Madoff? Are you out of work? And even though receiving an unemployment check was not MUCH, it was SOMEthing? Well, Americans unfortunate enough to be running out of unemployment benefits Sunday can thank the REPUBLICANTS for not voting to extend benefits! ONCE AGAIN these brain-dead morons have screwed the American people! They have proven time and time again how much they DON?T care about us -- they are MUCH more dishonest than all the big crooks I mentioned earlier COMBINED!

[dwyer27]

I am getting sick and tired of the political bickering. The reality of all this is the Repubicans put us in the hole. Now they want too blame the Democrats. While the Republicans argue about who did what they are not doing there jobs. I know there are good Republicans and good Democrats but there is elso BAD on both sides. We try to help the people of the world but, can't even help Americans in need. Sen Bunning in my opinion is a Traitor to the American People and this Country and should be tried as such. If all of Congress can't get there act togethjer then perhaps WE THE PEOPLE should take back our Country from the arrogent people in Washington DC.

[zekeboy1]

And just how do you suggest we do that? We The People are basically shut out of the process and they (congressmen) know it. All the hot air, all the grade school antics, all the finger pointing (and in this case finger giving), and on and on and on. We don't have a leg to stand on. The rules of the game are there for one reason...to get re-elected. And it works really well for em', don't you think? And then, here's a big guy, who now has the balls to say what he really thinks because he's not looking for re-election. In my book its spineless. And to another post here (notfondoflibs) that 'This is Jim Bunning only'...You've got to be kidding. The rest are running for re-election, D.A.

[eistheone]

This is shameful action... for any one individual... to be able to wage a personal vendatta on the American people:"Right now a single Republican is blocking the extension of unemployment insurance which means if he succeeds one million people, one million people next month will be thrown off the unemployment rolls," Vice President Joe Biden said, according to Fox News." That this Man calls himself a representative of the people - he sure has no problem playing politics because he "can't watch a basketball game"! The wildcats LOST...

[NotFondOfLibs]

This is Jim Bunning only, not all the Republicans. Mr. Bunning is a former major league baseball player who probably receives a nice pension for his baseball years. He is getting his, but apparently has a problem helping Americans who have lost their jobs and are not getting help from an administration that is either incapable of implementing policies to stimulate the economy or really doesn't care about getting Americans back to work in the private sector. Government jobs are not going to solve this country's problems. I urge people to contact Senator Bunning's office and voice your displeasure. Upon retirement he will receive a nice pension at taxpayer expense, so he is getting his.

[zekeboy1]

Geez, Bunning. Had to miss the Ky-SC basketball game? So you're taking it out on the unemployed? You're a PIG! A frickin' PIG. Not seeking re-election, huh? Wow. And we're trying to figure out what's wrong with the 'leadership' in Washington. It's not leadership. It's kindergarten 101. And you're a perfect example of it. GO HOME!!!!!

[KeithDrippingSprings]

It gets harder every day to believe the lies we have been told about our country. This isn't the greatest country in the world, we do not have a Representative government, there is no safety net for our citizens.

Just about every thing I grew up believing about America is a lie. Our Government has been sold to the highest bidder and it isn't us the common man that own it any more. The Thieves and Scoundrels in Washington, both Democrat and Republican have given up ethics and good governance. Now it is everyone for themselves.

[lynn1943]

It is amazing in all my years of working, this is the first time
I have ever had to use unemployment benefits in my twenty six years of working, now I find out that I am losing it. I have been looking non stop for a job to be able to afford my basic living needs, I have
not had any luck. I have a car payment to which I can not pay without benefits and am on the verge of losing it. Car lenders and banks don't play no payment and your items are repossed. Wow guess what that means no car for work if I do finlly get lucky and have a job. I hope your selfish republican non caring human being sleeps well at night, I know you will because you have money, house, car health insurance and no worries like myself a middle class hard worker looking at poverty, along with no insurance. I will hold my head high till the day I die for my fellow democrats, We know the value of a hard earned dollar.