So, it's not just the unemployed who will suffer because Bunning blocked the legislation extending unemployment benefits. There was more in the bill. And, it's causing at least 2,000 federal employees are having their jobs put on hold:
ABC News' Lisa Stark reports: Jim Bunning (reptile-KY) didn't just stop extensions of unemployment and health insurance benefits with his "hold' on these funding measures last week, he also stopped an extension of the Highway Trust Fund for 30 days. That means the fund cannot be used to pay for any of its programs or its employees.
So, the Department of Transportation as of Monday morning, must furlough 2,000 federal workers. DOT says that number could climb if this stalemate over funding drags on. Employees affected include federal inspectors overseeing highway projects on federal lands. If the inspectors aren't there, the projects must shut down. DOT says that will affect 41 critical construction projects from Alaska to the U.S. Virgin Islands.
“As American families are struggling in tough economic times, I am keenly disappointed that political games are putting a stop to important construction projects around the country,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “This means that construction workers will be sent home from job sites because federal inspectors must be furloughed.”
Repugicans got us into this economic crisis. And, the Senate repugican caucus is letting Jim Bunning extend it. The Democrats need to force Bunning and his colleagues to own this filibuster. They should have done that last week. But, maybe everyone has to see the impact first.
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