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Bunning’s blockade brings federal furloughs; McConnell ‘disappointed’
March 01, 2010
WASHINGTON — Kentucky Sen. Jim Bunning’s block of short-term funding for a host of federal programs that expired Sunday night will force the Department of Transportation to furlough nearly 2,000 employees without pay, the department said Monday.
The funding snafu also will temporarily cancel highway reimbursements to states worth hundreds of millions of dollars and shut down multi-million dollar construction projects across the country, said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.
“As American families are struggling in tough economic times, I am keenly disappointed that political games are putting a stop to important construction projects around the country,” LaHood said in a statement. “This means that construction workers will be sent home from job sites because federal inspectors must be furloughed.”
Federal projects shut down by the furlough include more than $24 million in Idaho's Nez Perce National Forest and $86 million for bridge replacements in the Washington, D.C., area. Kentucky does not have projects that will be affected.
The Kentucky Republican, according to several sources, told Democratic colleagues “tough s—” Thursday when they tried to get him to change his mind about blocking an extension of the programs. Bunning wants the $10 billion price of the legislation offset by budget reductions.
Federal agencies and lawmakers spent much of the weekend trying to assess the ripple affects of Bunning’s actions.
According to the National Employment Law Project, a research group, some 1.2 million unemployed workers, including 14,000 in Kentucky, would lose federal jobless benefits this month. The U.S. Labor Department figures about one-third will lose benefits in the first two weeks of the month.
Letting the highway program lapse could mean an estimated 90,000 jobs lost. As many as 2 million families with satellite television service could lose access to local television stations because a copyright law expired Sunday night.
According to the law project, states hardest hit by the Monday cutoff could be California, where an estimated 201,274 people could lose jobless benefits, and Florida, where the total is an estimated 105,016. Other potential state totals: Georgia, 48,284; Texas, 82,850 and Illinois, 65,431.
A spokesman for Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky’s senior senator, issued a statement Monday expressing disappointment that unemployment benefits had been allowed to lapse.
“Senator McConnell supports extending unemployment benefits and is disappointed they have expired,” said Robert Steurer, a McConnell spokesman. “He believes this should have been addressed weeks ago when there was a bipartisan agreement to do so. However, he hopes this issue is resolved quickly so that Kentuckians who are out of work will have their benefits restored soon.”
Congress will pass legislation aimed at keeping certain jobless benefits, highway and transit money and other government programs funded, Sen. Jon Kyl, the Senate’s No. 2 Republican, said Sunday. But the Senate is not expected to act until Tuesday at the earliest.
Congress is not voting on anything Monday, and when the Senate reconvenes Tuesday, it plans to consider a longer-term extension.
The bill, which also could include tax breaks that expired at the end of last year, is expected to attract several amendments that could slow it down, and though Republican leaders say the measure will eventually pass, approval is likely to be delayed until the end of the week. And once the Senate passes the measure, it still needs the consent of the House of Representatives.
Kyl, though, told “Fox News Sunday,” flatly, “it will pass.”
The Arizona senator also sympathized with Bunning. Recently, Congress adopted “pay as you go” rules mandating that in many cases, new programs must be paid for. So why, Bunning asked, if these extensions are so popular, can’t Congress find the money to fund them?
“Congress just passed the so-called pay-go legislation, which is supposed to require that we find offsets or other savings if we’re going to spend money,” Kyl said. “And what’s the first thing we do? We exempt this bill from it.”
Bunning remained steadfast in the face of withering criticism Monday.
Friday afternoon, Bunning’s regional offices in Hazard and Louisville received bomb threats, according to the Kentucky State Police. Police said they evacuated the premises, and searched the area with dogs, but found nothing.
Democrats seized the opportunity to pounce on both Bunning and his party for “obstructionist politics.” Bunning isn’t running for a third term, and his decision brought to a close a months-long saga that pitted the 77-year-old Hall of Fame pitcher against Republican leadership that urged him to step aside for the good of the party.
Kentucky Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo, a Democratic candidate for Bunning’s seat, pledged to hold a protest rally if unemployment benefits are not restored. Mongiardo also encouraged Kentuckians to call Bunning’s offices to complain.
During the 2004 campaign, Bunning said Mongiardo, looked “like one of Saddam Hussein’s sons.” Mongiardo is an Italian-American. Bunning later apologized for the statement.
Meanwhile, Kentucky Republican Rand Paul’s campaign for the U.S. Senate will hold a rally at 3 p.m. Tuesday in front of U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning’s Lexington office to support Bunning. web page
FOOTBALL IS NOT BASEBALL
Home of the Free, Because of the Brave...
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This article from the Lexington Herald-Leader from their Sat. paper...Bunning knew workers would be laid off...he just didn't give a damn...
Bunning blocks jobless benefits
COMPLAINS THAT HE MISSED UK GAME
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning of Kentucky may be a lame duck Republican, but he still knows how to make a flap.
Late Thursday night and again Friday morning, Bunning single-handedly blocked a 30-day extension of unemployment benefits and health insurance payments for more than 1 million jobless Americans over concerns about the federal deficit.
Along the way, he complained of having to miss the University of Kentucky's basketball game against South Carolina and reportedly responded to a Democrat's complaints with "tough s---."
The result: Some unemployment benefits could dry up Monday. Newly laid-off workers might not get federal help with health insurance premiums. Road and transit bills could go unpaid. Medicare payments to doctors would stay high. Rural satellite reception might even be affected.
By Friday afternoon, Bunning's regional offices in Hazard and Louisville received bomb threats, according to the Kentucky State Police in Hazard. Police said they evacuated the premises, and searched the area with sniffer dogs. As of Friday evening, nothing had been found and the investigation was turned over to the FBI.
Bunning spokesman Mike Reynard said phones in all of Bunning's offices have been "ringing off the hook all day. I think a lot of people are upset, but there have been some positive calls."
Reynard said Bunning supports the legislation but believes it must be paid for. So far, Democrats have rejected his ideas, such as paying for the measure with unspent stimulus funds.
"If we can't find $10 billion to fund something all 100 senators agree on, we won't pay for anything," Reynard said.
The top Republicans seeking to replace Bunning, who is not seeking re-election in November, applauded the 77-year-old Hall of Fame pitcher's hardball stance as the top Democrats in the race denounced the move.
Republican Trey Grayson, Kentucky's secretary of state, said he would "proudly stand up to ensure that programs are paid for." Republican Rand Paul, a Bowling Green eye surgeon, said "more senators need to stand up for the taxpayers and against the big-spending career politicians in both parties."
Democrat Daniel Mongiardo, Kentucky's lieutenant governor, labeled Bunning's maneuver "cold-hearted disregard for his fellow Kentuckians." Democrat Jack Conway, Kentucky's attorney general, accused Bunning of "grandstanding and political posturing, despite being asked to stop even by his Republican colleagues."
Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear said 119,230 unemployed Kentuckians are receiving benefits through the federal extension program that will expire Sunday. About 14,000 of those would exhaust their benefits within two weeks without the extension, he said. Kentucky's unemployment rate stands at 10.7 percent.
The House of Representatives passed the extension by voice vote earlier this week, and the Senate was expected to go along. Then along came Bunning, a fiscal conservative, who objected because Congress didn't pay for the $10 billion bill.
Voice votes can be blocked by a single objection. With many lawmakers already gone for the weekend, the next roll call vote in the Senate isn't scheduled until Tuesday.
After Democrats spent several hours urging Bunning to reconsider his objection Thursday night, Bunning complained just before midnight that he had been forced to miss UK's game against South Carolina.
"We weren't going to stand around for three and a half hours debating the issue," he said. "But I want to assure the people who have watched this thing until a quarter of 12, I have missed the Kentucky-South Carolina game that started at 9 o'clock. It is the only redeeming chance we had to beat South Carolina, since they are the only team that has beat Kentucky this year."
At another point, Bunning responded to a plea by Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., to end his objection with "tough s---," according to Politico, a Washington-based political publication.
Among the other provisions set to expire are the flood insurance program, Small Business Administration loans, a 21 percent cut in Medicare payments to doctors.
Anyone laid off after March 1 no longer would be able to get federal help to pay health insurance premiums; the program now pays 65 percent of the cost for certain workers.
Rural television watchers could lose local channels because the bill would extend the copyright licenses used by satellite television companies to offer the service.
The Senate is expected to consider a longer-term extension of the programs Monday, with passage likely next week. web page
I'm disgusted that again the GOP turns it's back on American workers during these tough times. Thank God, Bunning is not running for re-election...
FOOTBALL IS NOT BASEBALL
Home of the Free, Because of the Brave...
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Dawg Talker
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What a terrible person...I mean wanting to have deficit neutral funding of this program.....shame on him...I mean what is 10 BILLION DOLLARS anyway. Oh yeah it's only 5 times more than what the liberals have been blasting Wellpoint for making last year...They blast Wellpoint for earning 2 bil...but don't say a word about spending 10 Billion dollars of funds we don't have.... Yeah...this guy is a real jerk... 
I thought I was wrong once....but I was mistaken...
What's the use of wearing your lucky rocketship underpants if nobody wants to see them????
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Quote:
Bunning wants the $10 billion price of the legislation offset by budget reductions.
Quote:
“Senator McConnell supports extending unemployment benefits and is disappointed they have expired,” said Robert Steurer, a McConnell spokesman. “He believes this should have been addressed weeks ago when there was a bipartisan agreement to do so. However, he hopes this issue is resolved quickly so that Kentuckians who are out of work will have their benefits restored soon.”
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“Congress just passed the so-called pay-go legislation, which is supposed to require that we find offsets or other savings if we’re going to spend money,” Kyl said. “And what’s the first thing we do? We exempt this bill from it.”
seems pretty simple to me. he thinks that it is a crock that the 'pay-go' is being completely bypassed and that the bi-partisan agreement was trashed. so, why should he just roll over and playball?
#gmstrong
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"Reynard said Bunning supports the legislation but believes it must be paid for. So far, Democrats have rejected his ideas, such as paying for the measure with unspent stimulus funds. "If we can't find $10 billion to fund something all 100 senators agree on, we won't pay for anything," Reynard said. " http://www.kentucky.com/2010/02/27/1158396/bunning-single-handedly-stops.htmlSo, he's for it - but he's trying to play by the new "pay go" rules. And he's the bad guy? Why not use some of that unspent stimulus money for something like this mac? What the hell was the "must pass now" stimulus bill for if not for something like this? Last I heard, there were still hundreds of billions of dollars waiting to be spent - why can't the dems sacrifice a measly $10 billion from that? The money is sitting there. Yup - the dems are "for the people" Right. To any other posters - how can 1 senator block something like this?
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I'm thinking of writing Sen. Bunning and requesting he run for that 3rd term. http://bunning.senate.gov/public/index.c...ec-5a441b0041e4Quote:
Bunning Senate Floor Quotes On Pay For
Friday, February 26, 2010
The following quotes were made on the floor of the United States Senate by Senator Jim Bunning:
"It seems to me people have not been listening, particularly the Senator from Illinois. He has been through two of these with the leader. He heard the arguments on both sides. Unfortunately, he has a one-side-only view of this situation. I have offered the same COBRA, flood insurance, unemployment insurance, Satellite Home Viewing Act, highway funding, SBA loans, small business provisions--I have offered to do the same thing for the same amount of time. The only difference I have, and some of my good friends from the other side of the aisle, is that I believe we should pay for it. There is a right over the last 3 years of the Democratically controlled Congress. We have run up $5 trillion in debt. There has to be a time to stop that." (2/25/10)
"Well, we have tried to work this out with the majority, particularly after the pay-go vote last week. When 100 senators are for a bill and we can't find $10 billion to pay for it, there's something the matter, seriously the matter with this body. I've said that last night. I don't want to repeat myself. I have offered several ways to pay for it. If everybody in this chamber -- and there is no senators except me here right now, but there are 100 members of this body -- believes as the senator from Illinois does that this is essential and we should pass it, then we should pay for it. There are going to be other bills brought to this floor that are not going to be paid for, and I'm going to object every time they do it. I don't much agree with the Chairman of the Federal Reserve, but it was striking yesterday when he said if at the present level of debt and the present administration's budget is passed, that the debt of the United States will be unsustainable, unsustainable to me means that there is a chance of one of the rating agencies downgrading the rating on our debt. We cannot allow that to happen. Because I have got too many young grandchildren that want America to be the
#gmstrong
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To any other posters - how can 1 senator block something like this?
they were trying to get unanimous consent via a 'voice' vote. Bunning spoke up, which broke the consent and would force them to debate and vote on the issue.
it's for emergency measures that require expediting
http://www.senate.gov/reference/glossary_term/unanimous_consent.htm
#gmstrong
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If he were running for a third term, he sure as hell wouldn't pull this!  When politics equals making so many homeless and hungry with the stroke of a pen, that speaks volumes when someone simply doesn't mind doing so.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
#gmstrong
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Quote:
Quote:
To any other posters - how can 1 senator block something like this?
they were trying to get unanimous consent via a 'voice' vote. Bunning spoke up, which broke the consent and would force them to debate and vote on the issue.
it's for emergency measures that require expediting
http://www.senate.gov/reference/glossary_term/unanimous_consent.htm
Got it.
Thanks.
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Quote:
If he were running for a third term, he sure as hell wouldn't pull this!
When politics equals making so many homeless and hungry with the stroke of a pen, that speaks volumes when someone simply doesn't mind doing so.
Wait - wasn't it just a few weeks ago that pay go was a good thing? Now it's not?
I think if we had 100 senators like him, this country would be so, SO much better off.
Further more - the stimulus money is just sitting there (well, no, they actually don't have any money - they only have a piece of paper saying they can spend "x" amount) - why not use some of that money, instead of adding even MORE debt?
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If he were my Senator he'd have my vote for life.
He wants to Senate to abide by the rules they just put in place ..... how terrible! Oh the humanity .......
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
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So you are ok with me bouncing a check at the grocery store....just as long as it is to feed the hungry guy at the corner...
I am sure the Grocer will understand...
I thought I was wrong once....but I was mistaken...
What's the use of wearing your lucky rocketship underpants if nobody wants to see them????
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If he were running for a third term, he sure as hell wouldn't pull this!
Of course not ... he would lie and hand out money that he doesn't have just to "buy" a bunch of votes ... you know, like most politicians do these days. And people wonder why our current government is such a mess. 
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Unfortunate side effects, but I applaud him having the nads to stand up and force the issue like this.
Browns is the Browns
... there goes Joe Thomas, the best there ever was in this game.
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Unfortunate side effects, but I applaud him having the nads to stand up and force the issue like this.
We need more like him, in that regard.
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2nd String
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Unfortunate side effects, but I applaud him having the nads to stand up and force the issue like this.
We need more like him, in that regard.
Agreed.
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When politics equals making so many homeless and hungry with the stroke of a pen, that speaks volumes when someone simply doesn't mind doing so.
Pit, he SUPPORTS the plan. Aren't the others even more guilty by not stroking their pen to pay for the plan according to the paygo they all agreed upon?
And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.
- John Muir
#GMSTRONG
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Quote:
Unfortunate side effects, but I applaud him having the nads to stand up and force the issue like this.
prpl...But explain why this "suddenly" conservative Senator voted for every dollar of spending Bush asked for to help the Iraqi people?
...explain why the "suddenly" conservative GOP senator voted to bail out Wall Street?
...explain why the GOP frequently votes against "American" workers needs, but votes to fund nation building Iraq and helping Iraqi workers?
GOP voters might buy into this "sudden, selective" conservatism of your senators and reps, but I see it for what it is...pure GOP hypocrisy.
Where is Senator Bunning from?...
When Sen. Voinovich was asked what is wrong with the GOP, he was 100% correct when he said ?..“We’ve got too many Jim DeMints and Tom Coburns (and Jim Bunnings), It’s the Southerners."
What is the Republicans’ biggest problem?.."The party’s being taken over by Southerners.”
Yet another example...
FOOTBALL IS NOT BASEBALL
Home of the Free, Because of the Brave...
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ut explain why this "suddenly" conservative Senator voted for every dollar of spending Bush asked for to help the Iraqi people?
Can't do it and it's not for me to worry about. I cannot change the past, but I can hope to affect the future through the present.
All I know is that I agree with this move.
Browns is the Browns
... there goes Joe Thomas, the best there ever was in this game.
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but I see it for what it is...pure GOP hypocrisy.
Yet you are completely and utterly blind when it comes to DNC hypocrisy.
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I lived in Kentucky for a brief period ... never liked Bunning.
Agree with him here, though.
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More anger over Kentucky Sen. Bunning's delay of spending bill March 1, 2010 Add doctors and satellite TV viewers to the list of people who will be angered by Sen. Jim Bunning’s foot-stomping over a package of spending extensions pending in the Senate. The Kentucky Republican is blocking a vote on the bill, which would also extend unemployment benefits and the COBRA subsidies that help laid-off workers keep their health insurance. This unusual turn of events (the bill in question has been in the works for some time and was considered a sure thing for passage) has brought to fruition a looming — but widely considered unlikely — pay cut that doctors have been screaming about for years. That cut had been scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, but it was postponed by Congress late last year under the assumption that a longer-term, or even permanent, solution would be passed before the end of this month. The American Medical Assn. is not happy. In a statement, AMA President J. James Rohack called on the Senate to “stop playing games” and making patients “the collateral damage of their procedural games.” Under an arcane formula that dates to 1998, physician payments under Medicare are automatically reduced when spending outpaces GDP growth in a given year. Since 2003, Congress has legislatively intervened to prevent the cuts — as happened in December when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) stuck a temporary two-month fix into an unrelated spending bill. The practice of ignoring the cuts (nicknamed the “doc fix”) has become commonplace – but also a source of controversy over the AMA's role in the healthcare debate. The issue came to a head in October, when Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) attempted to push through a bill that would... ...put a permanent end to those cuts — which at a few percentage points per year had compounded to a whopping 21%. That was an embarrassing moment for Reid and the AMA. The bill was blocked by Republicans and some Democrats, who objected to its nearly $250-billion price tag. Reid implied that the AMA had wrongly assured him there were enough GOP votes for passage. Ultimately, the issue was left unsolved. But nobody thought the cuts would ever materialize. Thanks to Bunning, the unthinkable has happened. And a resolution could be many days away. Perhaps more unthinkable to those outside Washington is what the Bunning stunt could mean for some rural satellite TV viewers. As of Monday, those customers could find their TV screens blank because the program that allows delivery of their pictures will also lapse. Sadly for both constituencies, there was nothing that could be done late last week. It takes just one objecting senator to stall a vote on a bill. Such an action can be overcome through cloture. But that parliamentary procedure spans multiple days and requires senators to be present, not en route to their home states, as many were Friday. The bill is now essentially dead. And the AMA, a powerful Washington force that had thrown its support behind the Democrats’ healthcare agenda, is angry. In his statement, Rohack said the cut could force “many physicians to limit the number of Medicare and TRICARE patients they see in order to keep their practice doors open." On Monday, Reid will bring up a new bill to provide longer-term extensions, and some extra spending like Medicaid help for states. Depending on how that process goes, the doc cuts — and the TV snow — could go unsolved for some time. web page As you can see, it's more than just workers who are affected by the GOP's tactic to hold up this spending bill.
WHAT IS TRICARE?
TRICARE is the health care program serving active duty service members, National Guard and Reserve members, retirees, their families, survivors and certain former spouses worldwide. As a major component of the Military Health System, TRICARE brings together the health care resources of the uniformed services and supplements them with networks of civilian health care professionals, institutions, pharmacies and suppliers to provide access to high-quality health care services while maintaining the capability to support military operations.
To be eligible for TRICARE benefits, you must be registered in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System. TRICARE offers several health plan options to meet the needs of it's beneficiary population. Additionally, TRICARE offers two dental plans and several additional special programs.
Our Mission
To enhance the Department of Defense and our nation's security by providing health support for the full range of military operations and sustaining the health of all those entrusted to our care.
Our Vision
To be a world-class health care system that supports the military mission by fostering, protecting, sustaining and restoring health.
Eligible Beneficiaries
Approximately 9.6 million
Military Facilities Worldwide
59 military hospitals
413 medical clinics
413 dental clinics web page
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This country is at War...we have troops in harms way, putting their lives on the line for this country ...and how does the GOP thank them?....by defunding a key component of the military healthcare system, TRICARE.
BTW...SENATOR BUNNING VOTED AGAINST "PAY-GO"
Can you say "crazy GOP hypocrisy"?
FOOTBALL IS NOT BASEBALL
Home of the Free, Because of the Brave...
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Quote:
Under an arcane formula that dates to 1998, physician payments under Medicare are automatically reduced when spending outpaces GDP growth in a given year. Since 2003, Congress has legislatively intervened to prevent the cuts — as happened in December when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) stuck a temporary two-month fix into an unrelated spending bill. The practice of ignoring the cuts (nicknamed the “doc fix”) has become commonplace – but also a source of controversy over the AMA's role in the healthcare debate.
Interesting. We FINALLY get to see what the cuts are that they keep stalling, and the cuts that they wish to make permanent as part of this Health Care bill.
My question is this: Is the part of the formula that creates those cuts intentional, or are they the result of a mathematical hiccup in their formula?
I would think that it is intentional, to keep us from automatically spending more than we have at a time when we're already spending more than we have.
Browns is the Browns
... there goes Joe Thomas, the best there ever was in this game.
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I can take a TRICARE cut as long as everyone (everyTHING) else takes a cut too.
Great benefit, at least for us so far,...
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2nd String
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Why do you keep bringing up Cryin' George? Do you think he is some kind of standard bearer for the GOP? Quote:
"The party’s being taken over by Southerners.”
If by southerners you mean conservatives, all I can say is long live dixie. 
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2nd String
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You guys are all missing the point. Obama paid the Senator off to do this. The reason = over 1 million people will no longer be on unemployment, so they will not technically count towards the unemployment numbers. Unemployment will drop into the 8s within a month. Instead of saying "Yeah, but" the major media will go into worship mode. What happens next you ask - Obama holds a press conference proclaiming the stimulus a rousing success.
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hy do you keep bringing up Cryin' George? Do you think he is some kind of standard bearer for the GOP?
If you have to ask him this, you must never read a single post of his. Like all others on the left, anything critical of this administration is compared to Bush. Bush sucked in their eyes, but Obama doing the same things is okay since Bush did them.
Just a lame arguement from a dyed in the wool liberal mind.
#gmstrong
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All Pro
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 I think the poster you replied to wasn't even Mac, but someone talking about MAC. I also think it was about Sen. Voinovich not George Bush. You are like a lot of posters replying to Mac..............you throw barbs that could easily apply to you. You complain about his partisanship and relish your own. Pit is one of the few on these politic thread that I have any respect when it comes to saying what he thinks. I don't always agree, but respect him and his views. I respect the rest of you, just not your political views. (Though Daman you are earning my respect!)
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 39,601
Legend
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Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 39,601 |
Quote:
Unfortunate side effects, but I applaud him having the nads to stand up and force the issue like this.
I agree.
If everybody had like minds, we would never learn. GM Strong ![[Linked Image]](http://www.dawgtalkers.net/uploads/small-gator-chomp.gif)
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 30,825
Legend
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Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 30,825 |
Okay - I'll ask you - if this spending was so vitally important, why increase our debt another $10 billion when the money from the stimulus bill is still just sitting around. Why not use that money?
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 19,138
Legend
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Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 19,138 |
Why to the critics keep ignoring the fact that Bunning supports the bill........ but wants to use the stimulous money or cut spending to pay for it. The pols slamming him are more culpable than Bunning is.....as it would be more prudent to pass this by not adding even more debt.
And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.
- John Muir
#GMSTRONG
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 294
2nd String
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2nd String
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 294 |
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wants to use the stimulous money
Same should have been done with the jobs bill.
IMO
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 74,861
Legend
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Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 74,861 |
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Pit, he SUPPORTS the plan. Aren't the others even more guilty by not stroking their pen to pay for the plan according to the paygo they all agreed upon?
I see your point and agree with it to a great extent. But not when it comes to extending unemployment benifits. At least not in these times we are in today.
I know you may not, actually I'm pretty sure you won't agree with me.  , but these are the worst economic times our country has seen for decades. Unemployment is extremly high in places such as Ohio and Michigan. I equate it to be very similar to a national disaster in economic terms.
Squeezing the life out of people economicly to prove a political point seems like a horid thing to do at such a time. And I believe one must look at the consequences of such an action.
If one considers the foreclosures that very well result from such an action and the hardship it places on so many families at one time, the consequences of "proving a political point" could be very devistating to many people as well as further harming the economy.
So if it were anything else such as subsidies for other things, or a spending bill for something less critical, I too would applaud his actions. But in this case I don't see it so much as a political statement or us vs them political wise. I see it as spelling disaster for oh so many families with very possibly far reaching economic consequences that go far beyond political wrangling.
As I said, I don't expect you to agree with me, but I'm quite sure he could have picked a spending proposal that would be far less critical to families, honest hard working families caught up in a terrible economic time.
I believe that you have to pick your battles and I think this is by far a terrible place to fight such a battle.
jmho
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
#gmstrong
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 294
2nd String
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2nd String
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 294 |
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Squeezing the life out of people economicly to prove a political point
How many weeks have these people been on unemployment.
I know of too many that will not try to find a job until their unemployment runs out. Like a paid vacation (their words).
How many taxpayers is that squeezing.
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 750
All Pro
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All Pro
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 750 |
I'm proud that it's my Senator that did this.
Go Irish!
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,102
Dawg Talker
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Dawg Talker
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,102 |
I have no respect for the Democrats on this one. If they had the regard for the unemployed on their mind (as they are boasting) it surely wouldn't have come to this. The way I see it, they used the circumstances to purposely toss a banana peel out with hope a Republican would slip on it. Now they're crying crocodile tears.
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,317
Dawg Talker
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Dawg Talker
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,317 |
I was on unemployment for 5 months after my plant closed down last year, and unemployment lasts 6. I work in polymers, which is supposed to be one of this area's big industries and one of its strengths. Everyone was cutting jobs and moving them to cheaper areas instead of hiring. It was very scary there for awhile and I'm very lucky to have found a job, I can count on my hands how many postings I saw in the 5 months I was off work and just my plant had 50-ish employees.
Do the math on that.
If this guy had done this on pretty much anything else I would fully support him. But I understand the stress, the fear, the anxiety and all the other feelings that come from having your job being taken from you because the bottom line didn't look as good as it did in past years. I understand having pains in your chest because after month 3 of not having a job you have seen TWO job postings for what you do and have had neither one of them call you back. I understand what its like to be staring down the end of unemployment with no solid prospects. What this guy just did to all those people going through that right now is despicable and you trying to justify it with a few people's laziness is just disgusting.
"All I know is, as long as I led the Southeastern Conference in scoring, my grades would be fine." - Charles Barkley
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 7,531
Hall of Famer
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Hall of Famer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 7,531 |
Bunning should be burned at the stake for the BS he pulled.
Seriously...he says he missed the Kentucky/SC game as a way of supporting himself? Screw him.
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,123
Hall of Famer
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Hall of Famer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,123 |
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Bunning should be burned at the stake for the BS he pulled.
Seriously...he says he missed the Kentucky/SC game as a way of supporting himself? Screw him.
He should be burned at the stake for expecting congress to come up with the money?
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 50,441
Legend
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Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 50,441 |
Yes, because clearly you must be a witch if you expect spending to be paid for before you approve it .....
I mean, it's obvious! To the stake .... and off with his head too!
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
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DawgTalkers.net
Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum GOP Sen. Bunning blocks
unemployment benefits
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