Diamond Jim Bunning blacks unemployment extension a second time

Sen. Jim Bunning continues to object to extending unemployment benefits. On Monday, the Kentucky Republican once again prevented a vote on a bill that would extend eligibility for enhanced unemployment benefits and subsidized health insurance for laid-off workers by 30 days.

If Congress fails to pass an extension, the National Employment Law Project estimates that 1.2 million people will lose their benefits in March. Bunning's action could cause thousands of people to miss their unemployment checks starting this week, though it's likely that Congress will pass an extension within the next two weeks that will retroactively cover their losses.

The bill under consideration would provide a stop-gap 30 day extension for several other expiring laws. These laws provide funding for highway projects that employed 2,000 people until Monday, improved Medicare reimbursement rates (known as "doc fix"), flood insurance, and licensing that allows satellite TV providers to carry local channels in rural areas where they are unavailable with an antenna.

Reid had asked for unanimous consent again to move forward with the bill on Monday.

See the rest of the story at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/01/bunning-objects-to-extend_n_481144.html 

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