Mongiardo To Lead Protests Of Bunning's Funding Hold
Posted: Mar 1, 2010 2:26 PM
Updated: Mar 1, 2010 5:29 PM
Lt. Governor Daniel Mongiardo, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, will lead two public protests of Kentucky Senator Jim Bunning’s decision to single-handedly stop the funding of unemployment and health insurance benefits for more than 119,230 Kentuckians.
Two thousand federal transportation workers were furloughed without pay on Monday. Federal reimbursements to states for highway programs will also be halted, the Transportation Department said in a statement late Sunday. The reimbursements amount to about $190 million a day,
according to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
The gridlock in the Senate triggered a 21 percent cut in Medicare fees to doctors Monday, as the American Medical Association warned of a "meltdown" for seniors and the Obama administration scrambled to contain the damage.
The furloughs and freeze on payments were the result of a decision last week by Republican Bunning to block passage of legislation that would have extended federal highway and transit programs, the department said. Those programs expired at midnight Sunday.
The extension of transportation programs was part of a larger package of government programs that also expired Sunday, including unemployment benefits for about 400,000 Americans.
Bunning objected to the $10 billion measure, saying it would add to the budget deficit. He didn't respond to a request Monday for comment.
The impasse has provided the administration with an opening to excoriate Republicans for allowing popular programs to run out, even if only for a short time.
"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," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement.
Tuesday's protests will be held at noon at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park across from Bunning's office in the Federal Building in Louisville. The Lexington protest will be at 3 p.m. on Corporate Drive on the steps in front of Bunning’s Lexington office.
Associated Press Wire Services Contributed To This Story
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diane wills at Mar 2nd 2010 6:14 AM
bunning needs a one way ticket home. what happened to taking care of the people of ky? more people out of work,unemployment benefits gone for such a large amount of our population just when things are so bad,taking that spending,little that it is, what is he thinking? send him home or better yet send him to tennessee
Rodney P. at Mar 2nd 2010 6:14 AM
There is more to this story not being reported by the main stream media....Bunning will cooperate if one of 2 things happen. 1. Pay as you go....President Obama's request to Congress to control budget deficit. 2. Utilize some of OUR money, that was set aside for the stimulus package. That money is currently in a slush fund.
v.snelling at Mar 2nd 2010 7:06 AM
from someone on unemployment let us ask him to give up his money for the rest of his term how would he feel if he had to live on unemployment and someone tried to
stop his unemployment extensions everyone is worried about the deficit why not
train people on other jobs and offer more choices regardless of age or high
school diploma why doesn't he try to fix the job situation
bertieb at Mar 2nd 2010 1:13 PM
Bunning said again Tuesday that he opposed the extension because it would add $10 billion to the budget deficit, and he attacked Democrats for abandoning promises to pay for legislation instead of contributing to a budget deficits projected to hit almost $1.6 trillion this year. Bunning proposes to pay for the extension with unspent money from last year's massive economic recovery package, but Reid objected.
If the dems would stop using the excess stimulus for slush funds to buy other members votes for obamacare and using it for re-election payouts then the unemployment would be extended. Stick to the bill that Obama said he wanted! The PAY AS YOU GO. Liar, Liar, pants on fire. Thank you Bunting for trying to prevent mass unemployment and no funding at all when the USA goes completely broke by this Deficit Oriented Congress. Everyone knows when their credit card is maxed to the limit, they can't not charge anymore without severe penalties being attached.