Schieffer: "Unconscionable" Bunning Hold Just Politics

By: Daniel Carty
Topics: Congress

While Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky., claimed his hold on a bill extending jobless benefits was based on principle, the episode is being criticized as the product of a political feud within the Republican party.

"The back story here is Sen. Bunning is in a feud with the Republican leader in the Senate, Mitch McConnell,"Face the Nation" host Bob Schieffer said on CBS' "The Early Show" Wednesday. "He wanted McConnell and Republicans to support him in a bid for re-election. They did not do that. He's been seething and so while the Republicans were trying to move on ... he puts a hold on it and it takes three or four days to get it done. It's unconscionable."

The hold, which Bunning lifted Tuesday night, cut off extended unemployment benefits and health insurance subsidies for hundreds of thousands of jobless Americans. It also bottled up stopgap funding for highway programs, prompting the Department of Transportation to send some employees on furlough.

The measure passed the Senate by a 78-19 vote and President Obama signed it into law Tuesday night.

Bunning said the move was aimed at forcing Democrats to find ways to pay for the programs. But the Democrats have been able to seize on the episode to further paint the GOP as the "party of no."

With no support among Republican leadership for his reelection bid, Bunning is set to retire at the end of his term.

With the jobless benefits extension passed, focus returns to health care reform. President Obama signaled Tuesday his willingness to include four Republican proposals in his health care plan: undercover investigations of health care providers that receive federal funding; expansion of health savings accounts; grant money to study alternatives to malpractice lawsuits; and raising doctor reimbursements for Medicare.

Mr. Obama is set to discuss his proposal at the White House Wednesday, but Republicans haven't embraced the compromise measures. The Democrats aim to push through the package without Republican support, but Schieffer said that remains unlikely.

Mr. Obama's efforts may, however, shape the national political debate in an election year.

"What the president is trying to do here is to be able to say to the country, 'Listen, I've reached out. I did everything I could possibly do to get Republican support and they just wouldn't go along with it,'" Schieffer said.

"And now he will try to pass health care on a straight party line vote. That's going to be very complicated. I think at this point he really doesn't have the votes to get that done. He's trying to set himself up in a position that if this fails, he can say it's the fault of the Republicans."

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by soertli March 3, 2010 3:29 PM EST: Where in the hell was Bunning when the banks were looking for help. Was he concerned about how we were going to pay for the bail out then? Or pay for the war in Iraq? No, but as soon as the taxpayers NEED help....he is front and center to stop it. I'm appalled and sickened by his lack of compassion and immaturity in governing.; Reply to this comment


by riptide1019 March 3, 2010 11:31 AM EST: Actually you were wrong, hate. I am not a liberal. Laws don't make something right. I can give you many examples of this if you'd like me to. He is a crook just like almost every other politician in Washington, no different. Except this crook is an ignorant and spiteful one. You keep going on about dems like I don't already know how crooked they are. Even most of us republicans find this guy to be a clown. It is a small minority of you Limbaugh, Hannity worshipers that actually think this guy was right. Anyone who says Kim Kardashian is a role model, as Hannity did, is completely out of touch. You guys don't even adhere to what this party was founded on, freedom of religion and state rights. You just hate the dems so much you can't see how far you have strayed from Jefferson's ideologies. Go form your third party already.; Reply to this comment


by stn_sage March 3, 2010 10:45 AM EST: There's something terribly wrong with our system of govt and Mr. Bunning himself, when he alone, can hold MILLIONS of people hostage over their unemployment benefits as well as delay infrastructure upkeep!

Maybe he has a grudge against his party for NOT supporting his reelection bid...it wouldn't surprise me! But, that's NOT reason enough to punish everyone else, especially those dependent upon those payments!

He has proven himself to be a very SMALL man, from a very SMALL, hateful party! Thanks for reminding us all of that FACT!; Reply to this comment


by endurorob_5 March 3, 2010 10:08 AM EST: josephp5 March 3, 2010 9:06 AM EST
That's ridiculous for two reasons:

1. Senator Bunning voted AGAINST the "PayGo" bill three weeks ago, and

2. In 2003 Senator Bunning voted FOR the exact same bill he now opposes---an unfunded emergency extension of unemployment benefits (of course Bush was President and Republicans were in the majority then so things were different).

Bunning did not do this out of any sense of principle---he did it out of spite.

And the point he was making is that if you are going to create a pay go system then you should follow it. It is idiotic to create a pay go system and then not follow it. That is the real politicis of the situation. Tell the people you will not pass legislation unless it it paid for and then promptly pass legislation that is not paid for.; Reply to this comment

by riptide1019 March 3, 2010 9:41 AM EST

I am not a liberal. I am from Oklahoma and have been a life-long republican. We were talking about Bunning. Madoff is a crook, that is common knowledge. Bunning is also a crook with or without the laws.

Reply to this comment


by hateisafourletterword March 3, 2010 11:00 AM EST: No riptide. You made a big statement and you were wrong. I was just pointing out to stop the inflammatory statements that have no basis in this issue.

As long as his foundation follows the law, it does not matter how much he made in it and how much he gives away. AS LONG AS HE FOLLOWS THE LAWS - something Rangel had a tough time doing. If his foundation broke rules then he should also be penalized, but until then he is legal.

by riptide1019 March 3, 2010 9:28 AM EST

Bunning has a foundation that has made over $500,000, that is supposedly set up for a charity. To date a little over $100,000 has been paid to charity, a little under $200,000 was pocketed by Bunning. He is just another crook who preaches ideology when in fact he has never had a real job in his life.

To wheatfield, I have been on unemployment for a while now. My last employer is being sued for several reasons. Basically myself and a few others were told to do something illegal and we refused. When we refused he told us, "who cares, there are a hundred people to every one of you to take your place". A lot of employers take advantage of an already bad situation by exploiting their workers. I have turned in 700 resumes over the last year, either I am over qualified or not qualified enough. Be glad you have your business and try to see things from both sides.

Reply to this comment


by hateisafourletterword March 3, 2010 9:33 AM EST: And a private foundation is required to give away 5% of the average monthly fair market value of its assets each year. As long as it does that it is legal. So if it has $500,000 and gave away $100,000 then he gave away 20% or 4 times the legal limit.

Now why not go compare this to the Spielberg Foundation (that lost $3 million with Madoff) and see what their %'s were? I know, never go after a liberal right?


by HGOODGUY March 3, 2010 9:23 AM EST: Jim Bunning just pitched his best shut out ever!!!

The poor
The disenfranchised
The unemployed

You would think that someone with a sports background would know the meaning of fair play!; Reply to this comment

by wheatfield2 March 3, 2010 9:02 AM EST

I used to get at least 10 people a week handing in resumes and wanting to fill out applications for work. Ever since Obama gave raises to welfare and unemployment, I do not get 2 per month! I know many that are living the good life drawing unemployment...still have their ipods, cadillac phone plans, out partying every weekend, hanging out at casinos. God forbid if they have to take a real job after public dollars have made them so comfortable. A few I know that were laid off for seasonal jobs decided to just take advantage while the gettin's good. Refused work, but got to draw anyway. A few employers I know can't find any help now. How long are we going to shell out this money? How long are these people going to get paid vacations? To make it fair, they should send everyone a weekly check from the public stash, whether they are working or not!

Reply to this comment


by josephp5 March 3, 2010 9:10 AM EST: Who are those employers that you claim can't find any help now? Please provide a link. I guarantee that they will be deluged with applicants from all over the country.

I really think you're just making things up, however.


by chitown639 March 3, 2010 11:13 AM EST: by wheatfield2 March 3, 2010 9:02 AM EST
I used to get at least 10 people a week handing in resumes and wanting to fill out applications for work. Ever since Obama gave raises to welfare and unemployment, I do not get 2 per month! I know many that are living the good life drawing unemployment...still have their ipods, cadillac phone plans, out partying every weekend, hanging out at casinos. God forbid if they have to take a real job after public dollars have made them so comfortable. A few I know that were laid off for seasonal jobs decided to just take advantage while the gettin's good. Refused work, but got to draw anyway. A few employers I know can't find any help now. How long are we going to shell out this money? How long are these people going to get paid vacations? To make it fair, they should send everyone a weekly check from the public stash, whether they are working or not!

__________________________________________________________________
Really??? How much can a person receive for unemployment insurance per year? $10,000 to $12,000, barely above the national poverty level. And you claim that they're all living the high life off of $10,000 per year in this economy. How ridiculous!!!!


by josephp5 March 3, 2010 8:59 AM EST: I think it's just a talking point of Republicans, now that Bunning's stunt had raised so much ire, to claim that Bunning was on a solo crusade to embarrass Republicans.

No Republican was saying anything of the sort when Bunning first started his filibuster. In fact, on Friday Sen. Cornyn, the Republican from Texas, took to the Senate floor to praise and defend Sen. Bunning's courage in the matter.; Reply to this comment

by ajvw March 3, 2010 8:50 AM EST

the gall of this man expecting congress and the president to uphold their own 3 week old pay as you go rule.

Reply to this comment


by josephp5 March 3, 2010 9:06 AM EST: That's ridiculous for two reasons:

1. Senator Bunning voted AGAINST the "PayGo" bill three weeks ago, and

2. In 2003 Senator Bunning voted FOR the exact same bill he now opposes---an unfunded emergency extension of unemployment benefits (of course Bush was President and Republicans were in the majority then so things were different).

Bunning did not do this out of any sense of principle---he did it out of spite.


by hateisafourletterword March 3, 2010 9:39 AM EST: joseph - he may have done it out of spite. I do not know the real entire story and I doubt you do either.

However, let's work together to find a way to make D.C. accountable to us - the taxpayers. Sure Bunning's stunt was pure suicide politically. He should not have held up the bill he did the way he did. But he could have announced at a press conference that next month he will do what he did if they do not use PAYGO next month. That puts everyone on notice that things need to change and NOW.
Then in one month if he does it he can roll the tape of the press conference and say, I told you a month ago that I would not go along next time.
Eventually we will not be able to borrow more and more funds from China and India. Then what? You think good old George Soros and friends will ride into D.C. and be nice? NO. They will ruin the dollar just as he is now doing against the Euro. Then maybe just maybe you will understand that Bunning was wrong (in the short run) but absolutely correct in the long run.