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SENATOR JIM Bunning’s name is mud these days in Washington. Twelve times since last Thursday, the Senate has attempted to pass a $10 billion emergency, one-month extension of unemployment benefits, healthcare insurance for the unemployed, Medicare funding for the elderly, satellite television for rural America and highway projects.

Twelve times, the senator from Kentucky has invoked a unanimity requirement for emergency Bills to block passage. Mr Bunning (78), a former baseball star who is due to retire in November, has been compared to Scrooge. Some speculate he is trying to embarrass the Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell, also from Kentucky, for pushing him into retirement. The Washington Post questioned whether Mr Bunning was simply crazy.