Tom Coburn Might 'Pull A Bunning' On Unemployment Benefits

After the Senate passes its health care fix-it bill on Thursday, it will take up a measure to extend eligibility for soon-to-expire enhanced unemployment benefits for laid-off workers.

It's the exact scenario that played out at the end of February, when Democrats asked for "unanimous consent" to extend benefits and were single-handedly blocked for several days by Kentucky Republican Jim Bunning, who objected that the measure was unpaid for and would add $10 billion to the deficit. Bunning said "tough shit" to Democrats who complained that the stand-off jeopardized benefits for hundreds of thousands of people.

This time, however, Republicans, hoping to avoid another embarrassing scenario in which the party appears insensitive to the plight of the unemployed, are much better prepared. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Tuesday laid the groundwork for an identical bill that would offset the $10 billion measure with unused stimulus funds -- the same offset Bunning wanted -- which Democrats argue are already dedicated for other purposes.

And, as Politico reported on Wednesday, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) has intimated that he may "pull a Bunning" and object to the Democrats' emergency version of the bill. Coburn said he doesn't care if the impasse keeps the Senate in session past Friday, when it's supposed to adjourn for a two-week break.

Several Senate Republicans said Thursday they didn't know what would happen with the unemployment benefits. Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) referred HuffPost to Coburn.

"I think the bill ought to be paid for," Coburn said while thumbing his Blackberry.

Will you object to a motion for unanimous consent to move forward on the Democrats' bill?

"I haven't decided that yet," he said.

Democrats have indicated that they are up for a floor fight over the measure, which would extend by 30 days (to May 5) eligibility for up to 53 weeks of unemployment benefits and subsidized COBRA health insurance for laid-off workers. Without an extension, the enhanced benefits will lapse on April 5. The Senate already passed a bill that would extend the enhanced benefits for the rest of the year, but a disagreement with the House over how it should be funded requires another vote, and this week there's no time for that.

"If there is any effort to deny our most hard-hit Americans help with unemployment," said Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), "I and certainly a substantial number of other senators will be out there saying we're drawing a line in the sand and we won't let that happen."

It's hard to imagine, however, that leadership from the two parties is willing to force members to stick around past Friday.

Comments

[gamble9617]

09:24 PM on 04/06/2010

i really think some politicians are out of touch with people. Especially people who are less fortunate than they are. They say the future is on the line but we have to survive today. Our country spends millions of dollars at war and we donate very large amounts of money to help other disasters but there is an economical disaster here in the US. It seems that the same politicians we put in office aren't trying to help the people who put them in office or assist the people who have worked in this country for years!! I am presently on unemployment. I went to school to learn a trade, but now there are no jobs in my line of work. It's really not fair to say that the unemployed want to stay in the position they are in!! I 've worked all of my adult life and never had to apply for unemployment. Before any politician opens his mouth against any other group of people they should walk in their shoes!! I'm sure alot of people will REMEMBER who tried to help and who made the NEGATIVE COMMENTS at the next ELECTION!!

[Richard Palmer]

02:13 AM on 04/04/2010

Coburn is the epitome of what the Republicans represent..hateful speech, selfish disregard for the downtrodden, howling baptist Christian hypocrisy, let 'em eat cake attitude. In his megalomaniac stances, he fancies himself an avenging God and while I am sure that he is eating well over the Easter recess with no worries about his salary, the unemployed must suffer together with their children because of no income. I have seen Republican blogs where they accuse the unemployed of not looking for jobs because it is so easy to collect. Obviously, those accusers also have plenty to eat. They are the same ones who declare themselves Christians and howl about how the government has taken so much away from them. WHAT EXACTLY HAS THIS GOVERNMENT TAKEN AWAY FROM ANYBODY? The rednecks still have their guns, I still say Merry Christmas. If you said Happy Hanukha to a Christian, he would be insulted because he feels this country is his only. They talk about taking the government back and going back to 1933. Are they out of their minds? Do you still have your Medicare and Social Security? Then what is all this crap about death panels and concentration camps for kids? Stop listening to that morning talk radio and come down to earth.

[GrandMaSassy]

10:14 PM on 03/28/2010

The article in Politio really ticks me off. The congressmen (just wanted to go home for 2 weeks. Oh, they say the people that don't get a check for two weeks will get them retroactive. Let's see, Rent, food, Maybe that could be paid for retroactively......Our Congress is Worthless the Republican's have turned it into a game. The unemployed worker is the loser. Enjoy your time off you creeps...

[jqcitizen]

05:35 PM on 03/28/2010

I had to take advantage of the 'Unemployment Insurance Policy' that my employer and I had been paying into, for decades.
Believe me, I did not like it and was happy to, finally, become a taxpayer again, after finding a job.

Some members of congress, that are independently wealthy, do not care about the people that voted for them .

[momstudent]

03:02 PM on 03/28/2010

I have watched Senator Coburn on C-Span for years and have wondered where is the outrage over his games and hateful words? He goes on and on about spending, pro-life, and believes he is the only person in the Senate with any credibility regarding health care because he is a doctor. He speaks down to every person whom does not agree with him, he often is alone in the Senate chamber while ranting ( I assume others cannot listen anymore) and uses some type of procedure to delay a vote. He is a person who is proud of his Christian faith...ALWAYS votes and acts very Unchristian. I was taught Christ was present to help the poor, the sick, and people whom needed help and mercy. Coburn does not have the same belief as Christ. It is easy to say I am a Christian...it is another to actually behave, advocate and vote for those whom Christ would.

[callingemout]

02:29 PM on 03/28/2010

one of the c-street theocrats, well what a surprise. maybe unemployment is seen as a defamation to the family.

[sailor422]

10:03 AM on 03/28/2010

Thank you Tom for taking the focus off the fact we in Kentucky have produced the two worst senators in the senate.

[Bude]

10:12 PM on 03/27/2010

Who's Jim Bunning?

[enterhere]

10:48 AM on 03/28/2010

Bunning = hall of fame pitcher but also = a hall of shame senator.

[charlietuna11]

06:13 PM on 03/28/2010

bunning was a good above average pitcher. inspite of pitching a no-hitter in each league, he is no way a hall of fame pitcher. his winning percentage was not any where near high enough. like phil rizutto, a favorite of mine, they both got in the hall by excessive campaigning with the hall committee. their numbers are not hall numbers by any measure.

[KeyInfo]

09:25 PM on 03/27/2010

He cannot be re-elected. One of these hate filled Republicans is going to come face to face with an unemployed worker in the mid west named Bubba that has just had a bad day. Man I'd like to be there to see that. Because Bubba is going to mop the floor with this Dude's hair.

[Middleclassvotingbloc]

07:50 PM on 03/27/2010

Coburn is full of hate. The question is why. We know he does not care about his constiuents, so what is it that drives the hate in this man?

[scrogginsfarms]

04:22 PM on 03/27/2010

14 trillion dollar budget deficit, why should we worry about offsetting the cost? reckless abandon!

[Middleclassvotingbloc]

07:55 PM on 03/27/2010

Scrogginsfarms: Why is it that Coburn was fine with the 40 billion + ,and still going, it took to kill Americans and Irages in the Iraq war without thinking about the cost or where the money would come from. Your children will be paying for the two wars the Republicans started with live and treasure for years to come with nothing to show for it. I would far whether be taxed for health care to save lives than to be taxed for wars that take lives. Wouldn't you?

[scrogginsfarms]

08:39 PM on 03/27/2010

every person i know serving or having served has supported the mission, therefore people like you to ashamed to wear the uniform have very little footing to complain about the wars. as for the money let me stress, are you ready?

BUSH SPENT WAY TO MUCH MONEY! ill go even further, RONALD REAGAN SPENT TO MUCH MONEY.
how about all the wars democrats have started?
ww1, ww2, korea, vietnam, bosnia, iran(this one i realize obama wont start, but iran will because he is so weak).

last i checked 50million plus iraqis enjoyed an opportunity to vote this month, a privilege saddam seemed to oppose.
so how many cities would you allow them to nuke before you would act? just curious?

[Bodie1]

03:43 PM on 03/27/2010

Let's see, member of "C" street, "fixer" of scandals, devout christian evangelical of the leviticus variety. yep, all fits. Did I read somewhere that Coburn is losing the women of OK? Anyone who can comment on that?

[JailNeoconVicts]

12:36 PM on 03/27/2010

No. He's the new Ned Ludd.

[Dr Jimmy and Mr Jim]

11:40 AM on 03/27/2010

I believe you're missing the point. ALL Republicans are "the new Jim Bunning". ALL REPUBLICANS.

[den1953]

10:59 AM on 03/27/2010

I think this senator owes the American people a explanation what he knows about senator Ensign and his dealings with the ethics hearing , he is in on it to he offered his help and also had dealings with the C Street housing issue!