Republicans Block Unemployment Benefits

WASHINGTON, March 1, 2010 - As chair of the House Select Committee on Federal Economic Stabilization Funding, it's my job to monitor Washington, D.C. and keep Texas House members and Texans informed of federal actions that will impact them. Last week, the U.S. Senate was expected to pass legislation that would extend unemployment benefits, COBRA health insurance, as well as funds for the Highway Trust Fund and Medicaid reimbursements for physicians.

Because it's so urgent that the American people receive their unemployment benefits, the Senate was set to pass the bill through what's called "unanimous consent", which means everyone agrees to pass the bill. However, one Republican Senator from Kentucky, Jim Bunning, stood in the way and objected to its passage. Because of this one man roadblock, Texans and Americans across the country are set to lose their jobless aid today. Doctors are being instructed to not submit reimbursement claims under Medicaid for 10 days, to allow time to work around Senator Bunning's delays. Republican Senators have yet to reel in their colleague, and because of his publicity stunt, hundreds of thousands of Americans are feeling the pinch.

This epitomizes what it means to be from the Party of No, and shows how out of touch Senator Bunning and his Republican colleagues really are with the American people. Senate Democrats are scheduling a vote on the bill to go around the obstructionism and should be able to pass the legislation this week. In the meantime, this act of callous disregard will cause serious harm to Americans looking for work.

By Rep. Jim Dunnam