Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.
1 Corinthians 16:13
Posted on 03/02/2010 10:04:34 AM PST by Reagan Man
WASHINGTON — The effort to end a Senate standoff over unemployment benefits and health coverage for the jobless escalated on Tuesday morning as Senator Susan Collins, the moderate Republican from Maine, became the latest lawmaker, and the first Republican, to try to override the objection of Senator Jim Bunning, Republican of Kentucky.
The White House, meanwhile, called Mr. Bunning’s actions “irrational.”
Ms. Collins, who took the floor shortly after the Senate convened, said her effort was being made on “behalf of numerous members of the Republican caucus who have expressed concerns to me.”
“There are 500 Mainers whose benefits expired on Sunday,” Ms. Collins said. But Mr. Bunning, her colleague, continued to lodge his objection.
The effort by a Republican to end Mr. Bunning’s fight showed that the intensifying dispute is become a serious distraction in the Senate and a political liability for Republicans.
The White House spokesman’s criticism was couched in unusually strong language at a time when the administration is trying to be seen as searching for bipartisan comity.
“I don’t know how you negotiate with the irrational,” Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary, told reporters at an informal morning briefing. “I don’t know how you prevent one person who decides they hold in the palm of their hand the livelihood of hundreds of thousands who have lost their jobs.”
Mr. Bunning has single-handedly blocked consideration of a bill to extend expiring unemployment and related health benefits for 30 days, arguing that the Senate should first find a way to pay for the expense. Democrats, including President Obama, have hailed new rules they adopted called pay-go that are intended to prevent new spending without offsetting spending cuts or tax increases, but they are not subjecting this bill to those rules.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I think some Republicans remember 1995 when Gingridge shut down the government and Republicans were blamed completely.
a little more chin-music there Jimmy boy!!!!
FO SC.
She should be concerned for JOBS, not benefits.
Every waking moment of every day every US Senator should be focused on how we are going to return our nation to prosperity.
Else, I and some friends might figure out how we can use the army of the unemployed to take over this place.
Bravo Senator Collins. What a bit of work you are. Bunning stands alone.
Which Republicans would go to Collins to express their concern about Bunning.
Name names.
The focus on unemployment benefits is ridiculous. This so called “extension” for 30 days would add to the 99 weeks of unemployment already authorized. That’s TWO YEARS of a monthly government check. People who haven’t collected the full 99 weeks are still on unemployment!
When is it going to end? They extend it and then will have to extend it again, and again, and again.....
How long can someone stay on unemployment these days? I keep seeing articles about extensions, but none seem to mention the time limit.
“Mainers”??? When I was stationed there we called them “Mainiacs”!
Cut them off!
“I don’t know how you negotiate with the irrational,” Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary, told reporters at an informal morning briefing. “I don’t know how you prevent one person who decides they hold in the palm of their hand the livelihood of hundreds of thousands who WILL LOSE their jobs.”
Is he talking about what BO is going to do to NASA?
“I don’t know how you negotiate with the irrational,” Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary, told reporters at an informal morning briefing. “I don’t know how you prevent one person who decides they hold in the palm of their hand the livelihood of hundreds of thousands who WILL LOSE their jobs.”
Is he talking about what BO is going to do to NASA?
Its was mentioned on Fox last night that unemployment benefits can reach 99 weeks under some state laws.
Now that is news to me!
If Collins is the first to criticize Bunning, that hardly constitutes a “GOP Split.” More propaganda from the Slimes.
“There are 500 Mainers whose benefits expired on Sunday”
Knowing Maine Hag #1, it probably took her 14 minutes to say that.
They'll negotiate with Hugo Chavez and Imanutjob in Iran, but a US Senator is irrational for trying to enforce a Democrat law??
What is irrational is hoping that the ponzi scheme will go on forever.
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