Dems Seek to Raise Pressure on Jim Bunning's Block

(AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)
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.
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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?
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://*******.com...
Lee Tilson
www.rethinkingpatientsafety.com
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!
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 !)
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 ?????
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.
ANOTHER lying gop hypocrite !
take a GOOD look at the gop in action america...