Republican Senator Jim Bunning Says "Tough Sh*t" To The Unemployed

POLITICS

» by tffhthewriter February 27, 2010, 8:39am

Republicans sure know how to hold up progress. As an estimated 1.2 million Americans are anticipating the Senate decision regarding the extension of unemployment benefits and Jim Bunning, a Republican from Kentucky, is single-handedly blocking the action needed to prevent people from prematurely losing their unemployment benefits next month.

The Democratic senators, who are trying to a pass a 30-day extension for the unemployed, have literally stooped to begging the Kentucky Senator to drop his objection and give consent to make the decision unanimous.  But the stubborn senator simply replied,

“Tough Sh*t.”

At one point the debate “continued on until nearly midnight,”  because Bunning is opposing the money required to extend the benefits being added to the deficit and is proposing that the extension be paid with stimulus funds.

Stimulus funds?! WTF!  What is really interesting is that the multi-billion dollar automotive industry didn't face this much resistance when it came to their bail out, which clearly contributed to the deficit that Bunning is talking about.

In addition, the bank bail outs as well as the credit card industry and many other billion dollar industries, have all applied for federal assistance to rejuvenate their corporations; all at the tax payers' expense.

I guess my question to Senator Bunning and the rest of the Republicans is when will the people get their bailout? We pay your salary and also each year contribute to a lot of unnecessary programs.  But the programs that are truly beneficial to those in need are either having their funds drastically reduced; or flat out eliminated.

My suggestion for Bunning is next time you decide to waist my money with unnecessary over time, please remember that the deficit that you are talking about also includes your pay check.

Comment Comments 5 Tags Tags: ,
  • http://blog.jonolan.net jonolan

    One - How is it premature if they're "loosing" their benefits because they've reached the limit - plus however many extensions have already been granted - of those benefits?

    Two - What is so wrong with Bunning demanding that unused Porkulus monies be used to fund this extension instead of further adding to the crushing weight of the deficit?

  • http://blog.jonolan.net jonolan

    BYW - A quick follow-up after confirming my thoughts:

    Bunning voted against both TARP and the Auto Bail-out, so his current behavior is constituent with a conservative fiscal policy, i.e., pay-as-you-go, irrespective of the "cl*****" or nature of the recipients of the federal largess.

  • Rob Wilhelm

    jonolan: First, Bunning was in the Senate from 2001 through 2006, which was a GOP majority and Bush in the WH -- look at the figures on the deficit and what was paid for during that time. So don't go playing this 'fiscal conservative' card all of a sudden when the other guys are in power. He voted for the Iraq war and EVERY single extension, which by the way, wasn't paid for in the budget. So all of a sudden he has a come-to-Jesus moment. Karma will get you and the Jim Bunnings of the world, and don't come crying to us for help.

  • http://blog.jonolan.net jonolan

    Bunning's voting record is hardly straight GOP; he's voted against their spending as well, or chose lesser, funded spending more often than not.

    At some point the bank runs dry though. Somebody had to see that and it happened to be Bunning. You've made it clear in your comment that you wouldn't have complained if it had been some other program or set of hand-outs being held up, so the only issue at hand is either your partisanship our your greed.

    As for coming crying to you for help - That's the underlying difference between us; I don't expect anyone to help me when things go pear shaped. Perhaps that's why I've done well in life and weathered most of the rocky times fairly close to intact.

  • http://voicereason.wordpress.com voicereason

    His Tough-Sh*t comment was made to a fellow Senator and not to the unemployed. Senator Bunning is looking to have the extension paid for from...unused....tarp funds. This doesn't seem like an unreasonable request. Senator Durbin has said no to that proposal, becasue he doesn't want any strings attached. I am all for extending the benefits but the point Senator Bunning is making is valid. Let's make sure it's paid for. Then debate the long term jobless bill on the right footing.