Posts Tagged ‘Jim Bunning’
Top financial diplomat confirmed 78-19 after a year of “NO”
Democracy manages to slip into the U.S. Senate
Lael Brainard won Senate confirmation today as the Treasury Department’s top financial diplomat, giving her a key role in U.S. efforts to persuade China to adopt a more flexible currency.
The Senate approved President Barack Obama’s nominee in a bipartisan 78-19 vote that was stalled more than a year by Republican concerns over Brainard’s tax payments.
That’s a year of stalling, hemming and hawing by crap moralists like Jim Bunning of Kentucky. One of the Republican thugs who specialized in blocking unemployment checks.
Nineteen Senate Republicans joined 57 Democrats and two independents in confirming Brainard Treasury Department under secretary for international affairs…
The timing of the confirmation vote is significant as it occurs before meetings this week of the Group of 20, the smaller Group of Seven and the International Monetary Fund and World Bank…
As well as holding a key position in talks with China, Brainard would help shepherd U.S. official positions through the global lending agencies that are being urged to take on a stronger role in monitoring global currency policies.
The Party of NO continues their favorite folk dance – Blocking the Road.
Republican halts unemployment, health payments
Just another example of how democracy is not permitted in the U.S. Senate.
Bunning of Kentucky says “No” – once again
Daylife/AP Photo used by permission
Resorting to an old-fashioned one-man filibuster, Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) is blocking an extension of unemployment benefits and health insurance payments for hundreds of thousands of out-of-work Americans because of his concerns over the federal budget deficit.
The programs are set to expire at midnight Sunday, and the Senate’s inaction could delay payments.
Democratic and Republican leaders had agreed to pass a one-month extension through a process known as unanimous consent, in which no formal vote was required. But Bunning’s objection means the bill can’t go forward. The extension had been passed by the House and was ready to be signed into law…
“The simple fact of the matter is that this is an emergency situation and should be treated as such,” said Senate Assistant Majority Leader Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.).Bunning has refused to yield as a wave of senators criticized him…
The White House joined in Friday, with spokesman Robert Gibbs saying, “These are the type of games that the American people fail to understand.”
Bunning is retiring to country club life in Kentucky. I think he has enough stashed from his career in Congress to skip the typical lobbyist gig after he’s out of office.
OpenSecrets.org says he’s worth between $½ million an $1 million. Think that’s enough for him to feel comfortable?
Republican leaders may just gift a 60th Senate seat to Dems
Daylife/Getty Images
Already in conflict with his party’s leaders, Sen. Jim Bunning has reportedly said privately that if he is hindered in raising money for his re-election campaign he is ready with a response that would be politically devastating for Senate Republicans: his resignation.
The Kentucky Republican suggested that possible scenario at a campaign fundraiser for him on Capitol Hill earlier this week, according to sources who asked not to be identified because of the politically sensitive nature of Bunning’s remarks.
The implication, they said, was that Bunning would allow Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, a Democrat, to appoint his replacement — a move that could give Democrats the 60 votes they need to block Republican filibusters in the Senate.
“I would get the last laugh. Don’t forget Kentucky has a Democrat governor,” one of the sources quoted Bunning as saying.
One source said he contacted a Bunning campaign official and warned, “This is going to get out — there were 15 to 20 people who heard this and it’s newsworthy.”
“It’s not because he’s old and senile — he’s always been like that.”
Har!
