GOP Senator Holds up Jobless Benefits

(AP)  Once again, a stubborn Senate Republican is blocking speedy passage of a stopgap bill to extend jobless benefits, saying its $9 billion cost should not be added to the national debt.

This time it's Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., who's insisting that the measure be "paid for" so as not to add to the nation's $12.7 trillion debt.

"What we are doing is stealing future opportunity from our children," Coburn said Thursday.

The clash comes less than a month after Republicans abandoned a similar battle that led to an interruption in unemployment benefits eligibility for some people and a two-day furlough for about 2,000 Transportation Department employees.

A stopgap law enacted early this month extends though March 31 unemployment insurance for people who have been out of a job for more than six months, provides health insurance subsidies for the jobless and protects doctors from a sharp cut in Medicare payments.

But another short-term extension of the jobless benefits is needed while House and Senate Democrats work through negotiations on a long-term measure that would provide them through the end of the year. Those talks have slowed, prompting Democrats to move to extend benefits for an additional month.

Last month, Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky., blocked a similar extension of jobless benefits, but Republicans ended up on the losing end of a public relations battle and Bunning backed away.

Unlike the prior battle, this time there's no immediate danger of jobless people becoming ineligible for benefits. The programs don't expire until Wednesday, leaving time to work through the problem. But lawmakers are also antsy to go home for a two-week spring recess.

The House passed the stopgap bill last week by a voice vote.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky tried to move to legislation to extend the jobless benefits and other previsions, but the move was immediately quashed by Democrats. Democratic leaders say that jobless benefits are an emergency and don't need to conform to the new pay-as-you-go budget law, which requires new benefit programs to be offset with spending cuts or tax increases so they don't increase the deficit.

"We really believe that the unemployment situation is an emergency economic situation. Republicans do not accept that," said Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., the majority whip. "They want to cut off unemployment benefits or pay for it with stimulus funds that are creating jobs."

"I understand that Republicans are upset they didn't get their way on health care," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. "But Republicans should not take out their anger on the least fortunate, which is exactly what they are doing. They should not kick the unemployed while they're down."

[AnnetteNuck1]

I am a Republican. My entire family going back 120 years have been. We were simple farmers, some still are. We have evolved into Developers and Builders of communities. I have been laid off for 13 months. I have only 2 weeks of unemployment checks to look forward to. I have two children and I am a single mother who specilizes in a field dominated by men. I assure you that I have exceeded my expectations to all that have employed me. I have always maintained my own Healthcare thru my employment. Now, I have found myself on unemployment and food stamps. I have lost my home and the majority of my possessions that I worked for. I found a small place to rent to house myself and my children hoping to make it thru this ressession. I have run out of money. I have had two "2" interviews in the past 13 months. I am embarrassed and humilitiated. I don't sleep at night.I am not a low life. I need my job back. However, Oboma's Stimulas monies for Development is useless unless the company can first finance the Infra structure of the project prior to accessing the Stimulas. Well, since the banks will not lend that 2 million Stimulas monies sits stagnat (In LaPlata MD, Heritage Green Project) and I sit without employment. Go a ahead and use the untouched stimulas monies you have out there not being touched by Developers who can't finance. You ran to bailout the Banks. Now the Banks will not lend to Developers so that they may utilize your useless Stimulas. So go ahead and redirect that money to the unemployed. Gee thats 2 million, wonder how many other Stimulas monies sits like that doing no good to anyone. Not very smart to bail out the banks without a contigency to loan to Developers to set forth action on re-hires and additional employmet opportunities. I will tell you this much Mr. President and Members of the Senate, If your dont pass HR 4851 you will see me and my children at your White House doorstep. You can explain to them why mommy can't put a roof over their head. You Sir have and are continuing to fail the American People. I want my damn job back along with my life that you are trying to control with your stupid policies and resisted bills. You suck sir.

[AnnetteNuck1]

I am a Republican. My entire family going back 120 years have been. We were simple farmers, some still are. We have evolved into Developers and Builders of communities. I have been laid off for 13 months. I have only 2 weeks of unemployment checks to look forward to. I have two children and I am a single mother who specilizes in a field dominated by men. I assure you that I have exceeded my expectations to all that have employed me. I have always maintained my own Healthcare thru my employment. Now, I have found myself on unemployment and food stamps. I have lost my home and the majority of my possessions that I worked for. I found a small place to rent to house myself and my children hoping to make it thru this ressession. I have run out of money. I have had two "2" interviews in the past 13 months. I am embarrassed and humilitiated. I don't sleep at night.I am not a low life. I need my job back. However, Oboma's Stimulas monies for Development is useless unless the company can first finance the Infra structure of the project prior to accessing the Stimulas. Well, since the banks will not lend that 2 million Stimulas monies sits stagnat (In LaPlata MD, Heritage Green Project) and I sit without employment. Go a ahead and use the untouched stimulas monies you have out there not being touched by Developers who can't finance. You ran to bailout the Banks. Now the Banks will not lend to Developers so that they may utilize your useless Stimulas. So go ahead and redirect that money to the unemployed. Gee thats 2 million, wonder how many other Stimulas monies sits like that doing no good to anyone. Not very smart to bail out the banks without a contigency to loan to Developers to set forth action on re-hires and additional employmet opportunities. I will tell you this much Mr. President and Members of the Senate, If your dont pass HR 4851 you will see me and my children at your White House doorstep. You can explain to them why mommy can't put a roof over their head. You Sir have and are continuing to fail the American People. I want my damn job back along with my life that you are trying to control with your stupid policies and resisted bills. You suck sir.

[LisaWyatt34]

I guess with the following sale of the family business Sen. Coburn could care less about Unemployment Benefits. $41 Million pays a lot of bills.
FROM THE NY TIMES:
COMPANY NEWS; GERBER SCIENTIFIC ACQUIRES COBURN OPTICAL INDUSTRIES
Published: March 3, 1998

. .Gerber Scientific Inc. said yesterday that it had bought Coburn Optical Industries for $41.5 million in cash and the assumption of $21.5 million of debt. In the latest fiscal year, the closely held Coburn, of Tulsa, Okla., had revenue of $74 million and Gerber had sales of $380.9 million. The Gerber Optical unit makes equipment used to shape lenses and fit them into frames. The company should be able to sell more lenses abroad by adding Coburn's operations in Canada, the Netherlands, Singapore, Australia and Britain. Gerber, based in South Windsor, Conn., also makes equipment used in sign, clothing and electronics factories. Its shares rose $1.625 yesterday, to $21.4375.

[youngal32]

Remember the Wizzard of Oz? The cowardly Lion kept saying "I do believe in spooks, I do,I do, I do believe in spooks". The lunatic fringe- I do believe in Rush,in Sarah,in Glen,in Carl,in Ann, I do believe in kooks, I do,I do,I do believe in kooks.

[wownowlook]

The Republicans seem to only be concerned that the babies are born. Not that the child lives a healthy life.

[flapebbles]

Okay to all of you that think it is okay the unemployment benefits are CUT OFF.
This Government gave BILLIONS of dollars to BIG BANKS AND Mortgage Co's that caused the economic meltdown in the first place. They did not walk they ran to hand over billions and billions to wallstreet.
Just imagine both husband and wife lost their jobs. There is one job for every 6.4 people. We are not scums and drug addicts. We are Tax paying Americans who had good jobs and are now UNEMPLOYED!!!!!!!!!!
There are over 4 million people lost their homes, thier retirement and everything else they worked for.
The politics in this administration is ruining all of us and our LIVES!!!!!!!!! The Government and their fighting against each other is putting us and this Country at the brink of collapse! So hang on to you smugness folks. I can attest you never know when it's going to end your life as you knew it. WE AS TAX PAYING AMERICANS BETTER STAND UP!!!!!!!!
This gov. handed out money to GM and Chrysler then they paid their exiting ceo's millions. As did AIG, and Citibank, and Bank of America. The gov. is still handing money to Freddie mac and fanny mae but yet we are still losing our homes. I will say this is the WORST LEADERSHIP THIS COUNTRY HAS EVER SEEN. YOUR FIRED!

[Jethro_77]

For those that are naive enough to believe that he is doing this because of the deficit, I have bridges for sale (REAL CHEAP). The only reason he is doing it is political.

[CBSName]

Only in the mind of someone in Congress can using previously-appropriated money which was itself borrowed rather than borrowing more money be called "paying" for something. It's all funny money, and unless you object to all of the spending, you're just playing games.

[verypublishedwriter]

My sister recently lost her job after thirty-five years with the same company. This was the only job she'd ever had; she took it within weeks of graduating from university. She's 55 years old and a single parent of two who has no job and is not likely to find another (her age, her health and the nature of the business she worked for are all factors in this). Both of her daughters are in college (which my sister tries to pay for), she receives no financial help from anyone, she has no health or disability insurance, and, until recently, she was taking care of a sick spouse and consequently has minimal savings. And these wretched Republcans continue to be ever more wretched.

[verypublishedwriter]

My very own employment and healthcare story:

I'm a well-known novelist and memoirist who has written internationally bestselling books, as well as stories that are considered contemporary classics and are taught in university creative writing classes. And my work has been nominated for awards you've heard of (the Pulitzer prize, the National Magazine Award). The reason I tell you this is that, as a self-employed person, I have not been able to purchase health insurance for almost twenty years.

I am fifty-seven years old and, I hope, in good health. The last time I tried to buy insurance was ten years ago and I was told by a Blue Cross underwriter that he would not underwrite me because I'd been prescribed an anti-depressant. "It's been proven," he said, "that people who take Prozac jump off of buildings."

Today, approaching sixty, if an insurance "provider" chose to underwrite me, my premiums would exceed $1,500 each month. That's more money than I make a month, doing work that means something to hundreds of thousands of people. (Having been self-employed for over twenty years, I'm not eleigible for unemployment benefits.) And the amount of money I torture forth from my gut -- far less than $20,000 each year -- is pretty typical for a working artist, regardless of the artist's field of endeavor. I'm elated that healthcare reform legislation has been signed into law. As our uncommonly forward-looking, forward-understanding, forward-moving president has said, "It's the right thing to do." As a writer, I admire such understatement.

So. In addition to continuing to refine our national healthcare program and make it yet more vibrant, let's get on with other important, dare I say noble, work: big, tough environmental legislation and radical educational reform. Go, Obama, go. Go, progressives, go.

[omega42]

I am fifty-seven years old and, I hope, in good health. The last time I tried to buy insurance was ten years ago and I was told by a Blue Cross underwriter that he would not underwrite me because I'd been prescribed an anti-depressant. "It's been proven," he said, "that people who take Prozac jump off of buildings."
_______________________________________________________________

Did you read about Blue Cross of Texas denying the claim for the newborn because they are claiming he had a "preexisting' condition? It would all be hysterically funny like a Monty Python skit if they weren't serious and allowed to play God with peoples lives.