Jim Bunning Exposes Dems' PayGo Lie, Defends Block

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Senate Plots Path Around Bunning


Maine Republican Susan Collins was on the floor this morning and asked that the Senate move to consider the short-term unemployment benefits package that Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) stopped with his objection.

Collins said she was acting on behalf of several unnamed Republicans and, in effect, goes against Bunning.

Majority Leader Harry Reid said that his "friend from Kentucky has made his point and made it well."

However, Bunning restated his objection, so the short-term benefits extention goes nowhere.

What is Bunning's position?

-- Bunning says Reid did not follow Senate rules and procedures.
-- The jobless benefits package, a 30-day extention, would add $10 billion to the federal debt, because it was "not paid for" as required with spending offsets.
-- Reid waited until the eve of the expiration of benefits to ask for "unanimous consent" to pass the measure. Bunning objected. Bunning argued that Reid should have presented it on the Senate floor earlier and thus allow for the normal process of debate and an actual vote cast by each senator. Often the chamber is nearly empty when a "unanimous consent" request is made.
-- Bunning says he will support an extention and says he offered other ways to pay for it including using TARP funds.

What is Reid's position?

-- Reid says the temporary extention of jobless benefits is an emergency that would permit a shortcut to passage.
-- Reid says Bunning "has made his point" and it's time for him to withdraw his objection.
-- Reid plans to go around Bunning by offering a separate, larger, catch-all bill that would provide an extention of benefits for all of 2010 and the other funds for highway projects, etc.
-- Reid and Democrats talk about the needs of Americans hurting in a tough economy and argue that Bunning's objection is an affront to them.
-- Reid points out that Bunning has supported past deficit spending for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and did not vote for the "pay go" rule.





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