Republican Sen. Jim Bunning of Kentucky set off a firestorm this week when he single-handedly blocked a vote to extend unemployment benefits. His filibuster also led to the furloughs of 2,000 federal transportation workers and cut Medicare payments to doctors.When Bunning finally relented after five days, the Senate passed the $10 billion extension Tuesday night by a vote of 78-19.
Among those voting 'No' with Bunning: Republican Richard Burr of North Carolina.
Extension affected many of the 250,000 North Carolinians collecting unemployment, according to the state Employment Security Commission.
Burr spokesman David Ward said the senator objected to passing the spending bill without including a way to pay for it. He voted for Bunning's amendment that would have paid for the bill by closing a tax loophole. It was shot down.
“Sen. Burr supports extending unemployment insurance, COBRA, and other important programs, but he believes we ought to pay for these spending increases rather than just add them to the debt," Ward said. Burr "opposed final passage because this spending was not offset by cuts elsewhere in the budget. After all the hype about PAY-GO, the Democrats cannot live up to even their own standards.”
But Burr's vote gave ammunition to Democratic rivals.
“For many of these people and their families, the extension was a lifeline," Secretary of State Elaine Marshall said in a statement. "Sen. Burr has shown a disturbing lack of compassion for his fellow citizens. He is clearly out of touch with the people he represents.”
Chapel Hill attorney Ken Lewis said "Richard Burr showed once again that he is alarmingly out of touch with the interests of the people."
UPDATE: 1:53.... A spokesman for the N.C. Employment Security Commission said 6,500 of the 250,000 people collecting unemployment in the state would have seen their benefits expire without the extension.
UPDATE: 4:47... Cal Cunningham, the third major Democratic Senate candidate, also weighed in on Burr's vote. He said the vote "hurts North Carolinians who need emergency support in the toughest economy in generations. "
83 comments:
Really...Out of Touch....How about he is looking out my my childs future......If you are going to pass a bill.....Pay for it.....Borrowing from China is not the answer.....WAKE UP.....
This is the same Senator Burr who voted yes on every spending bill that came up under the Bush administration. He wasn't concerned then about how it was going to be paid. This man shows the true meaning of the word hypocrisy. He is a good example of what is wrong with most of the Republican members of the senate. Their one purpose is to defeat any bill that is brought up in order to show that nothing is being done by this congress. All they can think about is future elections and hope the voters are stupid enough to put them back in control.
Oh, so now he decides that he's concerned about the deficit. Didn't seem to concerned about the pesky details when he supported all of Bush's unfunded gov't mandates while dragging us deeper into debt.
What a shallow creep.
Why didn't you right wingers think about spending under Bush when he was borrowing from China to support the Iraq war? Where was the outrage then? We have awoken to the ways the republicans ran congress. They supported the war with supplemental spending bills that put debt on the backs of your children. So, don't cry to us now about your children having to pay off the debt.
Senator Burr is a Republican party robot...saying, doing and voting as the party tells him to. Not looking out for the people who elected him. I'm hoping the voters here wake up and see the obstruction is hurting all of us.
Get this callous, member of the party of "NO" out of Washington.
Yes, out-of-touch and totally indifferent to their suffering. I bet he would prefer to do what SC has done and lay off thousands of teachers rather than add to the debt because that's really going to improve the economy when those teachers stop spending their money. What a total imbicil. VOTE BURR OUT!!!
Funny how the dumbacrats write things and still blame Bush. Listen dummies...this goes back to Kennedy and johnson. Do your research first. Keep following your beloved BO...he WILL be out in 1 term. Why don't you watch the debates from May 2005 when Obama, Biden, Pelosi, Clinton and Reed all argued against EVERYTHING they are doing now. Go to Youtube and watch it. Maybe you can keep hiding behind Al Gore and him starting the internet and writing about global warming...bunch of BS!!!!
How much you wanna bet the commenters bashing Burr are commenting here because they're too lazy to go out and find a job and want to see their free-ride taxpayer-funded gravy train continue?
BTW, the law REQUIRES expenditures like this to be offset by cuts elsewhere. And Republicans proposed paying for this extension out of unspent "stimulus" funds. Democrats rejected that idea, even though 2.4 MILLION jobs have been LOST since the "stimulus" passed.
The current administration has tripled the debt. Time to stop blaming Bush. Time to start doing the painful things it will take to tighten our belts and get out from under this mess. If the current congress won't do it, they will be replaced.
12:44 you mean tripled the DEFICIT.
Oh, and budget cuts aren't "painful", they are CONSTITUTIONAL AND NECESSARY. Leaving our kids $12,000,000,000,000.00 in debt, now THAT is painful.
Why didn't they just accept Bunning's amendment that would have paid for the bill by closing a tax loophole???? What happen to the Dems promise of Pay As You Go? Why NOT close a tax loophole?
By the way... Kay Hagen voted NO to the admendment to close the loophole. As a matter of fact ONLY Democrats voted no. There were actually 3 Dems and 1 ID that voted yes.
What does this say... go right ahead and use that loophole.. even though it not really the right thing to do.
WOW...forcing congress to pay for bills passed...what a novel idea!
Glad to see the right wingers are covering all of the Fox-approved talking points. Would hate to let facts get in the way of your rants!
I saw one person post 'get off your butt and go out and find a job'. Well that's real nice. I got laid off by Wells Fargo almost a year ago after 30 years in the workforce. I apply for at least 10 jobs a week. The only thing standing between my family and living on the streets is a meager unemployment payment.
I find it shallow that these conservative policies put us in this mess and now all of a sudden he's 'principled' about spending. After voting for every pork-laden, debt-creating bill that Bush and the Republican congress came up with.
But that's OK. I know who my friends are.
I do see where Bunning and Burr are correct. We need to find ways to pay for things. But I find the comments regarding the unemployed offensive. Until you are in that situation, do not pass judgment. Those small pay checks that are coming in are paying bills. But there aren't jobs or employers calling back or setting up interviews left and right. I, myself, have been out of a job for 9 months. I have a college degree...but I'm competing against the rest of the unemployed. So until you walk in our shoes, show some support and apathy.
I cannot even get unemployment benefits because I have been self-employed for 22 years. Where is the compassion for my family who has to pay for continuing benefits for others food when I can't buy mine? It's time government quits borrowing for things they (me)can't afford.
When are the people of this country going to wake up and realize Republican Party politicans are for one thing and one thing only, the Republican Party. America matters not and the people of America certainly matter not, it's all about power and maintaining the upper crusts wealth flow. They rewrite history, spread nonsensical fear to the uninformed, and depend on the uneducated southern and midwestern voter as their delusional base.
Anon@ 12:39 You are the one who really needs to do your homework. People are hurting and can't provide food for their families, and a roof over their head. As far as the deficit is concern instead of worrying about what your children will have to pay you better worry about tomorrow, and the next day, and the next. You have to live now and let tomorrow take care of itself. We can't continue to let families hurt because they are unemployed. Get a freakin clue.
Anon@ 12:39 You are the one who really needs to do your homework. People are hurting and can't provide food for their families, and a roof over their head. As far as the deficit is concern instead of worrying about what your children will have to pay you better worry about tomorrow, and the next day, and the next. You have to live now and let tomorrow take care of itself. We can't continue to let families hurt because they are unemployed. Get a freakin clue.
Anon@1:08 You are in the position you are in because you didn't plan ahead very well. You should have had a back fund in case your business went under. Nobodies fault but your own.
Anon@1:08 You are in the position you are in because you didn't plan ahead very well. You should have had a back fund in case your business went under. Nobodies fault but your own.
Anon@1:08 You are in the position you are in because you didn't plan ahead very well. You should have had a back fund in case your business went under. Nobodies fault but your own.
Agreed! The ones who are nailing us all to the cross wear both Democrat and Republican colors! They are the ones who refuse to adhere to pay-go and don't care what happens in the future. If anyone, Republican, Democrat, Independent, Communist, whatever, wants to start serving the people by reducing the debt, paying as we go, cutting pork, reducing fraud, etc. they will have my vote!
12:31 There wasn't an increase in Debt/GDP until the Reagan Administration. Verify your information before you call someone a "DUMMY"......
This all started with Kennedy alright, the assassination of President Kennedy! That's when this decline of America really started.
Republican circular talking point: When illustrating the hypocrisy of Republican debt-spending under G.W. Bush the Republican says, "Stop blaming Bush." That statement, sir, does erase the facts.
Anon 1:24
Both parties are responsible, but the drivers are social programs like Medicaid/Medicare and social security. I don't believe Reagan started those programs.
Stop being ignorant.
A YAHOOOO LIKE THIS ONE HAS NO CLUE WHAT IS LIKE TO BE I;N LINE OF THE UNEMPLOYED ASK HIM TO BE UNEMPLOYED FOR 6 MONTHS WITH NO INCOME OTHER THAN UE BENEFITS AND SEE HOW WE ALL FEEL WITH THE ECONOMY THEY IT IS THAN LETS YOU AND I TALK MR. SENATOR. I AM FROM N.C. AND A UNEMPOYED REPUBLICAN YOU WILL NEVER GET MY VOTE ALONG WITH OTHER REPUBLICANS FACING THIS HARD TIMES.PAY US NOW OR PAY US LATER BUT YOU WILL PAY MR. BURRRR COLD!
The Grandstanding Obstructionist Party is living up to its name. We'll never have bipartisanship until Republicans start loving America more than they hate Obama.
Burr, what a loser. How many times did he vote to fund "supplemental" bills to throw money down the drain in Iraq and Afghanistan? Those aren't being paid for. I'm sure he never saw a military appropriations bill he did not like so that his buddies at Lockheed, Raytheon, General Dynamics, etc. could charge the government wildly bloated/inflated prices for boondoggle weapons systems... not paid for. Did Burr vote against any of Bush's tax cuts for the rich? These apparently have driven deficits higher... so what about that Richard? Burr is a classic pawn of the privileged "country club" elite. Big business/corporate profits at the expense of working people are the big Burr motivators. Kay Hagan may be a centrist disappointment but I'll vote for any Democrat over Richard Burr. Why, because I believe in the lesser of two evils-sad but true!
Replublicans don't care about nothing but maiking their own pockets fatter.
Regardless of the past, the drive by Sen.'s Burr and Bunning are absolutely on-the-mark - continuing to fund programs - ANY programs - without PAYING for them in some way will bring this country to complete ruin very shortly (the tiny "pre-quakes" are already all around us if you'll open your eyes and LOOK).
Rolling "costs" over into the national debt is national suicide.
And where will all you whiners be when the "social saftey net" is not just hurting - but totally GONE?
Truthfully, I can't wait for it to happen - because a nation composed of individuals who are so completely self-centered, STUPID and determined to foist this all on the backs of THEIR OWN CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN does...not...deserve...to...survive.
Senator Burr is one of only five Senators in the United States of American WHO IS WORTH A DARN. He cast that vote knowing FULL-WELL what a lot of people would say - and how the country-destrying Democrats would spin it - and he voted that way ANYWAY. It's refreshing to see a Sen. with the COURAGE OF HIS CONVICTIONS. Of course, I realize the GUTLESS won't appreciate that.
You would all do well to remember that come election-time.
BTW - try SIGNING your comments instead of being "brave" from the hidey-hole of anonymity, Mr. & Mrs. "anonymous".
It'll build CHARACTER (look that up) if you have to actually take responsibility for your words (like Sen. Burr did).
Our country desperately NEEDS a lot more of that right now. Pete
Anonymous at 3/04/2010 12:39:00 PM, said:
"How much you wanna bet the commenters (sic) bashing Burr are commenting here because they're too lazy to go out and find a job and want to see their free-ride taxpayer-funded gravy train continue?"
What are you doing in the middle of the day trolling these boards? Get out and get a job!
Don't forget about all the money Burr gets from the insurance companies.
Pete just because you are stupid enough to fall the BS from Burr doesn't mean we are. You don't have balls neither does Burr or Bunn. Just because I don't publish my name does not mean I'm scared of your ignorant butt. It just means actually that I'm smart enough to know not to publish my name it is the internet dummy.
Does "paygo" mean anything to you or was that just another "Obama lie"?
I remember back in 2004-2008 Pelosi, Reed, Obama and others were criticizing Bush for not spending enough. The families were suffering back then with 5% unemployment they claimed. Now all of the sudden they spend three times more to justify "failed 8 years" of spending. What a logic
Jim Morrill trying to stir up trouble...PAYGO, you see Jim understands what this means. But, most of his fellow liberals don't.
"After four legislative days of impasse, I reached a supposed deal with Majority Leader Reid to have an up-or-down vote on a pay-for amendment that would fully fund the legislation and not add to the debt. Only minutes before the vote, Democrats used a parliamentary maneuver to set aside my amendment and not vote on the actual substance of it. Only in Washington could this happen. The Democrats did not want to vote on my amendment because they knew they were in the wrong and ignored their own rules. Hypocrisy again rules the day in Washington."
~ Joe Bunning
I never have been a fan of Mr. Burr, but I hope we give our next generation the same we received, a chance & a Country we can be proud of. Their future is in the hands of politicians that spend America's future for political & self gain.
Name a Republican that voted for the paygo legislation.
Good luck.
In January 1981, when Reagan declared the federal budget to be "out of control," the deficit had reached almost $74 billion, the federal debt $930 billion. Within two years, the deficit was $208 billion. The debt by 1988 totaled $2.6 trillion. In those eight years, the United States moved from being the world's largest international creditor to the largest debtor nation.
Reagan, your conservative hero. Never submitted a balanced budget. Hypocrites.
They should have held out longer.
"Reagan...Never submitted a balanced budget."
That's because a Democratic Congress held the pursestrings. Reagan's choice was sign it or bring the government (and many private businesses) to a halt. Regan got the tax cuts that INCREASED revenue, bu the Democratic Congress spent the increase plus alot more.
Get you facts straight.
Does Burr have any redeeming qualities?
Has anyone noticed that Wall Street is back as a new movie?
I just love the scene in the original one where they are overlooking an elegant ballroom dance, with food piled high and clothes designed to be worn only this one night by the people.
The quote is "The Illusion of Safety!"
That is what our elected officials have tried to sell us for years.
The fact is the sun is coming up and the caterers, the band, the ball room owners and the like are lining up just outside the door.
We are out of money. We are in outrageous Debt.
We can not afford to pay for even our operational costs.
If you are looking for any advice other than stop spending from my post then you can stop reading now.
But those of you who know and have done so for the last two or so years, stop spending was just the start, and in fact we cut our expenditures to the bone. Why then has the government not done so?
It's not the responsibility of GovCo to provide you a living for you or your family. It most certainly isn't realistic to keep perpetually extended unemployment benefits far beyond the normal 6 month period. If you have to work a crap job to provide for necessities, then do what has to be done. Anything else is pure pride.
What about when you can't even get a crap job because there are no jobs are there you idiot?
What about when you can't even get a crap job because there are no jobs are there you idiot?
@ 3:34... you can't name a republican that voted for that bill... because it was stuck in with the 2 trillion debt hike. They want pay as you go.. they didn't want the increase in debt.
"I find it shallow that these conservative policies put us in this mess"
Well, no wonder you can't find a job, with ignorance like that.
Bush 43 was no conservative. Conservatism necessitates limited government, restrained spending, power devolved to its lowest feasible level.
I called his office and told him exactly what I think about him. He should be a North Carolinian rather than a Republican state. All he cares about is what his party thinks of him. Other posters have pointed out the hypocrisy of this position since he voted against much larger bills that were not paid for before. I'd have more respect for him if he'd say he hates this President and intends to vote against everything until he leaves office. Don't pretend to care about the deficit starting last week.
Bunning's plan is idiotic. Paying for the unemployment benefits out of unspent stimulus money increases the deficit by the same amount that is kicked back to the treasury. — his objection that an extension will increase the deficit makes no sense.
Most of you don't realize the politics of Bunning's actions. About 1 month ago, the Democrats voted for "Paygo". That means you must find a way to pay for your legislation. All Bunning was doing was hold the Democrats feet to the fire to pay for their legislation. The hypocrits they are say one thing and do another.
The reason we have a 14 Trillion debt.
You are all idiots. Both of these parties have equally financed America. As a republican, I was outraged by the yearly deficits from the party of fiscal responsibility. The democrats are living up to their billing now that they are in control. The republicans paid the price for their bad policies in 2006 and the dems will get theirs in 2010. The cycle will continuously repeat itself. We need to enact term limits on congress to avoid "career politicians" and maybe we can get some reasonable individuals to make sound decisions for us all. Until then, enjoy your share of the debt.
Burr is a jerk; and just like the Energizer Bunny, he keeps proving it again and again and again! And as long as NC voters are just as stupid in voting for Burr again and again and again, his stupidity will flourish. Btw, Burr's party affiliation as a Republican automatically makes him a robot. Republicans are selfish, arrogant, and horribly egotistical that they'd prefer to hurt this country than commit a vote for progress. As robots, they doubled the deficit under George Bush, marching to his tune for war in Iraq that killed hundreds of thousands of innocent men, women, and children. God save us from these mindless, elitist Republicans of which Richard Burr is sadly one of hundreds in the US House and Senate!
Burr is a jerk; and just like the Energizer Bunny, he keeps proving it again and again and again! And as long as NC voters are just as stupid in voting for Burr again and again and again, his stupidity will flourish. Btw, Burr's party affiliation as a Republican automatically makes him a robot. Republicans are selfish, arrogant, and horribly egotistical that they'd prefer to hurt this country than commit a vote for progress. As robots, they doubled the deficit under George Bush, marching to his tune for war in Iraq that killed hundreds of thousands of innocent men, women, and children. God save us from these mindless, elitist Republicans of which Richard Burr is sadly one of hundreds in the US House and Senate!
with burr...
i never concur...
vote the rep. robot out!!!
How many of you Burr supporters are among the unemployed? I wonder what your lives would be like if you were without any revenue coming into your bank accounts? Jobs for all able citizens will be a great first start to fuel more dollars into the government.
Burr and Bunning are heroes. Hope they also stand up to Obama on his plan to legalize more than 20 million criminals known as illegal aliens. To all you Dems, what do you think that will do to unemployment?
Republicans like Burr and Bunning don't know the average American is alive. A vote for Republicans is a vote for the banks and low industry wages.
When one belongs to a party whose current core principle is govt. is can't function properly or get anything done right, what do you expect?
@5:01
There are plenty of crap jobs out there that 'Americans just won't do'. If you aren't finding any, it's bc you aren't looking. That's the real idiocy. But don't let me stop your pride train.
All the idiots still blaming the Bush politics. You know your boy obama voted for every one of those spending bills also. Plus he has spent more than all the administrations prior to him combined. Extending unemployment is not putting people back to work, it causes some people to expect that free ride to do nothing. So, Burr voted no, now hes doing something for us.
This administration has done NOTHING for you! It has added debt upon debt and followed Bush's plan exactly. We are still in 2 wars and BO is spending like a drunken sailor. SENATOR BURR is a savior. Four more weeks of unemployment and many more billions of debt are BAD for the country and for you. Will it help you get a job? Absolutely not! The dems ignored their vote when they would not pay as you go. Burr is not the culprit here. The dems and BO have no offers for jobs unless you work for the government or are in a union. Neither of these helps North Carolinians. WAKE UP FOLKS. Stop drinking the kool aid. The progessives are making you SLAVES!!!
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Great, he's got my vote. I will personally sponsor buses to get out the vote for him, ala ACORN and SEIU.
I'll make a donation if you get those buses together. Thinking about putting up some billboards, too.
I'm definitely supporting Burr because of his stand. Good for him!
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This is the new year. Let see some change. Just a little light of improvement.
We can only hope that every thing is going to turn around. We think next campaign will be better. Good post.
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REMEMBER THAT BURR STILL STICKS WITH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AT THE COST OF 32,600 JOBS IN NORTH CAROLINA TIME TO SEND HIM PACKING.TODAY HE VOTED AGAINST THE JOBS BILL WHICH WOULD HAVE GAINED 32,600 FOR FIREMAN POLICEMAN AND TEACHERS.
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