Friday, February 26, 2010

Jim Bunning Repeatedly Blocks Unemployment Benefits Extension, Tells Dem 'Tough Shit'



When this ongoing economic crisis leads to a collapse in social order; when there are riots, an explosion in the crime rate and spread of general chaos, which there will be if it continues as it is going, then I hope guys like Senator Bunning are the first who are strung up by the mob.

Read his comments below:

Jim Bunning, a Republican from Kentucky, is single-handedly blocking Senate action needed to prevent an estimated 1.2 million American workers from prematurely losing their unemployment benefits next month.

As Democratic senators asked again and again for unanimous consent for a vote on a 30-day extension Thursday night, Bunning refused to go along.

And when Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) begged him to drop his objection, Politico reports, Bunning replied: "Tough shit."

Bunning says he doesn't oppose extending benefits -- he just doesn't want the money that's required added to the deficit. He proposes paying for the 30-day extension with stimulus funds. The Senate's GOP leadership did not support him in his objections.

And at one point during the debate, which dragged on till nearly midnight, Bunning complained of missing a basketball game.

"I have missed the Kentucky-South Carolina game that started at 9:00," he said,
"and it's the only redeeming chance we had to beat South Carolina since they're the only team that has beat Kentucky this year.

The unemployment rate in Kentucky is 10.7 percent.


4 comments:

Mike Sandifer said...

Why do they need unanimous consent?

mike norman said...

Right. It's another one of these procedural things that can be used so that nothing gets done.

Matt Franko said...

Mikes
The Dems lost Kennedy's seat to Brown, I think Lautenberg from NJ in in the hospital with stomach cancer and Byrd from WVa has been day-to-day so its harder for them to get the "cloture" these days.

Here's a link to the Senate proceedings. Bunning starts his rant at about the 435:25 point.

Interestingly, in being obstructionist, Bunning cites Bernanke's testimony from earlier in the day when Bernanke "looked right at me and told me that our $14T debt and Obamas budget is unsustainable"

So former MLB pitcher Bunning is ignorant of the true Treasury and Central Bank operations, but what is Bernanke's excuse?!

mike norman said...

Bernanke is guilty of comitting an innocent fraud at best or at worst, pure cowardice. Bernanke knows the truth, but chooses not to state it because it is not politically acceptable to say the gov't can create whatever amount of money it wants and spend it on anything. Greenspan said this. In fact, I think the exact quote is on my blog. Do a search for "Greenspan" and I think you'll find it.