Extension of Jobless Benefits

Posted on March 2, 2010 by townsend

• Republicans look for way past Bunning’s blockade, By Carl Hulse, March 2, 2010, New York Times: “Senator Jim Bunning, who chose not to run for re-election, appears willing to take the heat for holding up unemployment benefits and shutting down highway construction projects around the country. Other Senate Republicans, who are hoping for big political gains this year, are not so eager. With Mr. Bunning’s objection to extending jobless aid quickly becoming a national cause célèbre, his colleagues were trying to find a quick resolution to an impasse that was not only having direct consequences on some of their constituents, but also doing some political damage to the Republican brand as well…”
• In face of criticism, Sen. Bunning blocks jobless benefits again, By Ashley Halsey III and William Branigin, March 2, 2010, Washington Post: “Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) stood firm Tuesday in single-handedly blocking the Senate from extending unemployment benefits, highway funds and other programs in the face of mounting criticism from Democrats and pleas from his own party. Bunning objected to a request from Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) to pass a 30-day extension of the measures, then defended his stand in a debate with Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.). Other Republicans sought to use the Senate’s morning business period to change the subject, but several Democrats hammered away at Bunning’s use of Senate rules to prevent approval of the stopgap legislation since Thursday…”