Dems Seek to Raise Pressure on Jim Bunning's Block

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: Congress

(AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

Democrats were stunned when Republican Sen. Jim Bunning singlehandedly blocked a bill that would have extended unemployment benefits for thousands, but now they're turning Bunning's move into a political talking point.

Democrats have pinned the blame for the Senate's lack of action in the past year on the GOP's obstructionist agenda. Bunning's move seems to prove their point.

"The business before the Senate is literally life and death on many issues, and the parliamentary tricks to delay and obstruct the basic workings of our government have real-world consequences," Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) wrote in an op-ed on Talking Points Memo. "On issue after issue, votes large and small, the strategy from the GOP at the highest levels has been the same: exploiting every Senate rule, playing every trick to try to slow things down."

On a conference call with reporters yesterday, Democrats blasted Republicans for abusing Senate rules, which have come under heavy scrutiny during the health care debate.

"We now have exhibit A in Republican filibuster abuse from Sen. Bunning," said Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), according to the Hill. "I think he's done more in the past few days to draw attention to Republican procedural abuse than anything we've seen before."

The political gridlock has halted construction work across the country and cut Medicare payments to doctors, among other things. The consequences have put Republicans in the uncomfortable spot of having to turn their backs on those who lost work or unemployment benefits because of Bunning's hold, or turn their backs on the fiscally conservative principles Bunning says he is defending.

"It's hard to argue with a senator who wants to become fiscally responsible, and we should be paying for as much as possible," said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) according to McClatchy. "I respect the right of each senator to hold up major legislation. However, when it comes to unemployment benefits, I don't think it's fair to punish people who've already lost their jobs."

With Bunning planning to retire after this year, candidates for his seat are attempting to score political points on his move as well. Kentucky Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo, a Democrat running for the seat, has said he would hold a protest rally if unemployment benefits aren't restored, McClatchy reported. Kentucky Republican Rand Paul will reportedly hold a rally in support of Bunning's hold this afternoon in front of Bunning's Lexington office.

Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by evae1960 March 2, 2010 9:03 PM EST: This comment may dismay some, but here is the reality of my experience with one friend who is on unemployment benefits: She has been on unemployment about three times. She is an alcoholic. She was terminated from a high paying position about two and half years ago for this reason. Due to a technicality, she won an appeal with the Department of Labor versus her previous employer and was awarded benefits.

How does this unemployed person spend her days? Looking for employment? Oh, no-she does not. She spends her days shacked-up with some guy, also unemployed for the same reasons as she, having sex, smoking pot, eating sumptuous meals (she's a great cook!) and then drinking into the wee hours of the morning in the company of this guy she met about three years ago before she lost her job. These two have been doing this for about two and a half years. They will continue this pattern until somebody wises up and cuts them off from this enablement. I really cannot stand to talk to this previously functional person very much, but I do call her from time to time just to check on her and make sure she's still alive. There are even more lurid details to report, but I will spare the reader...
Is this what our lawmakers intend? When will her benefits finally expire and force these two to roll out of bed before noon and go get a job?; Reply to this comment


by hillarynow March 2, 2010 4:15 PM EST: This is what Republicans do, is it that hard to see voting more of them into office in November will only bring even more of this kind of pig headed thinking to Washington? They can fund their money sucking war though, and pretend they are all heroes saving us from the Arabs, but they don't concern themselves with whether you can feed your family or yourself. They have all they want in life, and they are rich and in control of your life. They can give our over sized military TRILLIONS of dollars, and waste HUNDREDS of BILLIONS, on their war in Iraq but you get higher rates and prices, cut services and benefits, much less for your dollar and unemployment while they bankrupt us and ship your jobs and our factories overseas as they line their own already filthy rich pockets. This is what the Republicans do, every time, is there some reason why anyone thinks they won't do it even more if we elect even more of them? THINK for once America, throwing the baby out with the bathwater is NOT the solution. America gave that moron Bush 8 years and look what he did to this country with his Republican majority, Obama has only had one year to try and fix it all, give him and the Democrats a chance, it all takes time, and is simply evidence of just how much damage Bush and the Republicans have done, listen to Obama, he is right. The Republicans will not help you, they lie, steal and get richer while they start wars and waste all your money, while you starve and die with no job, no health care, no benefits, no business, no retirement, no future. Republicans like Bunning are the reason America ended up here, this kind of blind ignorance and greed. The Democrats aren't perfect, but they would never do this to the American people in a time of need. Vote Democrat in November, they will come through for us given time.; Reply to this comment

by lee.tilson March 2, 2010 1:44 PM EST

Absurd.

While the Constitution allows the Senate to make its own rules (Article1, Sections 3 and 5), nothing in the Constitution allows one Senator to paralyze the government. Where was this demand during the trillion dollar Bush tax cuts?

The Senate rules exist to serve our needs. These rules are not working. Change them.

http://***********...

Lee Tilson
www.rethinkingpatientsafety.com

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by lee.tilson March 2, 2010 1:47 PM EST: http://***********/one-senator-is-not-a-majority

by stormerF2 March 2, 2010 1:09 PM EST

Make the Democrats come up with the money first. We have a Pay Go Bill just passed by them and praised by Obama now they want to ignore it? Keep the pressure up Jim Bunning. If they can not pay for it hold the line. If we do not have the money we can not pay for it. No more wasteful Spending.

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by daisykaisy March 2, 2010 1:41 PM EST: You are so ignorant! The reason it is so hard to come up with the money is because it was all spent by the Bush Administration on two wars that did not need to be fought. Oh and lets not forget the Bush Administrations' greed of outsourcing jobs overseas to NON-Americans.
Bless the good Lord that Obama was elected, he has done a good job so far trying to fix the republicans errors.
The UNEMPLOYMENT EXTENSION will be passed, so its all good.
I currently make over 100,000 a year in my job and I don't care if I have to pay more tax or whatever, so my neighbors, fellow citizens can get what they need to survive on unemployment!!
If I was you, I wouldnt be so quick to judge. When the day comes you need assistance, you'll be eating your words! Hope Bunnings' life has some tragedy too, so he eats his!


by jimbom121 March 2, 2010 1:58 PM EST: Where was pay as you go during the Bush years?

by barbaramac1965 March 2, 2010 1:05 PM EST

i believe burnnings seat will be filled by a democrat as will alot of republican seats they need to see he is screwing them but it helps us democrats in the end its us people who vote !!!!!!!

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by stormerF2 March 2, 2010 1:11 PM EST: Time for someone to stand against the Wasteful spending,when we have no money. Where the hell is the PAy as you Go bill,the Democrats passed and Obama praised as the right thing to do? Make them walk the walk no money no spending.


by barbaramac1965 March 2, 2010 12:59 PM EST: I was layed off last year and i have 2 kids a 14 year old daughter a 7 year old terminally ill son as soon as i was layed off i started taking college classes i didnt sit around now im gonna lose my unemployment what am i gonna do my ex husband is worthless wont pay his child support because i left him because he started beating me jim burning needs to walk a mile in my shoes he wouldnt like it very much i dont complain i just do what i have to but we cant survive without my unemployment; Reply to this comment


by JavMD March 2, 2010 11:12 AM EST: read financial news :

The US is expected to borrow $1.17 trillion in 2010, taking its national debt towards an amazing $15 trillion dollars. Harvard economist Niall Ferguson said as a result of this huge borrowing US government debt is a safe haven the way Pearl Harbor was a safe haven in 1941.

SIMPLE SOLUTION: USE PRESENT VOTED STIMULUS FUNDS (they are not even 50% allocated-issued yet !); Reply to this comment

by sparkyh48 March 2, 2010 11:02 AM EST

I think that Mr. Bunning needs to be in a position to lose everything he has, like so many of us who are unemployed and struggling just to survive. To be so arragant as to say "tough sh--" when people are in such a situation just burns me. It was the Republicans and their greed that sent our jobs overseas. Now they can't understand why no one is working and no one can afford their products. They need to be on the receiving end of their stupidity for a change instead of expecting us to just deal with it. It is time the congress does something for our people and not their own reelection and greed all the time. Get the extension passed so we don't lose our last life line and hope.

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by JavMD March 2, 2010 11:17 AM EST: lests see : Reliance Electric Company closed the mfg plant in 1997, then closed Euclid (Ohio) in 1999. President Clinton a Democrat was in office,
should i blame democrats for being out of work?

I blame all for not helping companies compete against low cost foreign firms

so "Sparkyh48: wake up, its BOTH.

many workers become temps and contract, self employed....sorry I can't get unemployment, wheres my benefits ?????


by dcbr1 March 2, 2010 11:17 AM EST: Sparky48 said "It is time the congress does something for our people and not their own reelection and greed all the time"
However Jim Bunning is not running for re-election making his views more sincere. I think he is acting in a way he wished he could have before, but he had to consider political implications. To bad more Senators could feel free to vote their conscience. I know things are tough right now for many, including me, but unless we establish fiscal responsibility in Washington, we will never get our jobs back and our economy moving forward.

by truth-b-toll March 2, 2010 10:50 AM EST

What he really wants is a FAT Gov airplane contract for his state!
ANOTHER lying gop hypocrite !
take a GOOD look at the gop in action america...

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by stormerF2 March 2, 2010 1:16 PM EST: As long as he holds the spending down,by making them find the money first. The Democrats passed the Pay as you Go bill and Obama praised it,now they want to ignore it. Hold the line make them walk the walk and stop spending money we do not have.


by dcbr1 March 2, 2010 10:47 AM EST: Listening now to Bunning and Reid exchange on senate floor. Sen. Bunning is throwing another perfect game. A senator telling it like it is - Wow!!; Reply to this comment