Erick Erickson
RedState.com
3/2/2010
Why does Harry Reid hate the unemployed? Why does he want people to starve?
Why does Harry Reid hate highway projects? Why does he want people to tear up their cars hitting potholes?
It’s true. The evidence is in the Senate on the floor right now.
Jim Bunning does not want to vote for the unemployment extension plus highway bill without knowing where the money is coming from. He has, consequently, objected to unanimous consent for passage.
All Harry Reid has to do is bring the bill to the floor for an actual vote. All he needs is 51 votes for this, unlike the health care bill.
Can Harry Reid not get 51 Democrats to fund unemployment benefits? That’s all he needs. But he won’t bring the bill up for an actual vote. He wants all 100 Senators to go along with it.
That won’t happen.
So Harry Reid is holding the unemployed hostage for a photo-op. It’s like the President bringing reporters along to take pictures of the coffins unloading at Dover Air Force Base — crass and political, but devoid of substance.
Why does Harry Reid hate the unemployed so much that he’d hold them hostage for a photo-op?
Read also from The Hill:
DeMint comes to Bunning’s aid in unemployment fight
By Eric Zimmermann
03/02/10
Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) is offering his support to beleagured Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.), who has become the focus of Democratic wrath for his stand against extending unemployment benefits through unanimous consent.
DeMint took to the floor today to support Bunning’s cause.
The South Carolina Republican said he’s not necessarily opposed to unemployment benefits, but doesn’t think it should add to the deficit…
The entire article is at The Hill.
And from the Wall Street Journal:
Pressure Grows on Senate Holdout to Relent
by Naftali Bendavid
3/2/2010
Top Republicans in the Senate tried making a deal to get around a legislative impasse from one of their own, distancing themselves from Kentucky Sen. Jim Bunning’s one-man blockade of a bill to extend unemployment benefits.
Since last week, Mr. Bunning has blocked progress of the $10 billion measure, which would add to the deficit, saying it violates congressional rules that new initiatives must be paid for.
Momentum appeared to shift to the Democrats Tuesday as they took the Senate floor to criticize Republicans, Mr. Bunning in particular. GOP leaders didn’t stand behind Mr. Bunning, and Sen. Susan Collins (R., Maine) publicly urged him to relent, saying she was speaking “on behalf of numerous members of the Republican caucus who have expressed concerns to me.” …
…Democrats see Mr. Bunning’s actions as a way to highlight what they call Republican obstructionism and abuse of Senate rules. Mr. Bunning said it is a matter of principle.
“The question I’ve been asked mostly is, ‘Why now?’ ” he said. “Well, why not now? What better time…to stand up?”
