This Tuesday night the Senate managed to end an impasse over the unemployment benefits of hundreds of thousands of unfortunate Americans. The 30-day extension passed by a 78 to 19 vote, but only after Republican Senator Jim Bunning of Kentucky had his chance to block the vote.
Bunning has been stamping his little foot since last Thursday over the extension, citing concern over the federal budget. The 79-year-old Senator and former Hall of Fame baseball pitcher wanted the bill to identify how its cost would be offset, but his amendment involving the end of tax credits for paper business failed nonetheless.
His stubbornness was depicted as cold-hearted by the Democrats, while fellow Republicans wondered if this was further cementing their reputation as irrational obstructionists.
Senator Susan Collins, a moderate Republican from the state of Maine, said this in an interview, “The present stalemate is unacceptable. This has real-life consequences for people in this country.”
House Democrat John Yarmuth of Kentucky was “embarrassed that a senator from Kentucky is holding our government hostage.”
Now that the impasse has, well, passed, unemployment benefits and COBRA benefits will be extended for another 30 days for eligible citizens, and the Highway Trust Fund will be replenished, putting thousands of furloughed federal employees back to work on road and bridge projects throughout the country.
Twirlites, sound off.
Are you receiving unemployment benefits right now? Are you getting by on what the feds are giving you?
Photo via Salon.com
