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.
Democrats are attempting to circumvent Mr Bunning with a $150 billion Bill they hope to pass this week. In the meantime, thanks to Mr Bunning, 2,000 labourers were yesterday sent home from highway projects; 100,000 jobless people have had their benefits stopped; and 400,000 more are slated to lose benefits within two weeks. Half a million unemployed Americans will lose medical coverage.
An ABC News producer says Mr Bunning flashed his middle finger when asked why he blocked the legislation. When another ABC journalist tried to follow him into the lift, Mr Bunning said grouchily: “Excuse me! This is a senators-only elevator!” Mr Bunning portrays his one-man crusade against the small $10 billion Bill as a blow for fiscal responsibility. “The bottom line is that Senator Bunning wants to renew these important programmes,” his spokesman Mike Reynard said, adding that he “feels very strongly that we can’t keep adding to the debt”.
Mr Bunning’s pique won support from Arizona representative John Kyl, who said unemployment benefits dissuade people from job-hunting. Economists say there are six applicants for every job opening in the US.
Mr Bunning’s stand has been seized upon by Democrats as proof that Republicans are responsible for the gridlock in Washington. “This is a part of the wake-up call to the American people that Republicans are abusing procedures in the Senate,” said the representative Chris Van Hollen.
Meanwhile, President Barack Obama yesterday travelled to Georgia to launch a $6 billion “cash for caulkers” programme that is intended to make homes more energy efficient and create jobs in the construction sector. The president unveiled the plan at the Savannah Technical College, which trains workers to install solar panels. The programme is modelled on last year’s “cash for clunkers” scheme, which helped the auto industry by rewarding car owners who turned in “clunkers” for more energy efficient vehicles.
Some three million homeowners will receive rebates of up to $3,000 when they install new insulation, duct sealing, water heaters, windows, roofs and doors.
The White House described the programme as a “triple win” because it will reduce household energy budgets, create jobs in construction and manufacturing and reduce US dependence on fossil fuels.