GOP blocks vote on jobless benefits

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Story by Sara Sciammacco, with additional reporting by Michael Ono, CNC News

As lawmakers head home for a two week recess, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), led Senate Republicans in blocking a vote to extend unemployment insurance and health benefits for thousands of people who are out of work.

“What I wanted us to do is to pay for it and these people get their unemployment insurance,” Coburn said.

Republicans believe the benefits should be paid for by the legislation. Democrats, who failed to rally the necessary 60 votes to override GOP objections, argue the country faces an emergency situation because of the swelling ranks of unemployed.

“We chose not to work it out, not to solve the problem because we didn’t want to make difficult choices about where we cut spending and eliminate additions to the debt,” Coburn said.

Republicans hope their tactics will improve fiscal responsibility.

“I think the sentiment will be much stronger going forward than it has been in the past,” said Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ).

Unemployment benefits are set to expire on Monday, April 5th, which is before the Senate is scheduled to return from recess. That delay has Democrats up in arms.

“In the meantime, we’ve engendered more uncertainly for families in a time of great uncertainty,” Sen. Jack Reed, (D-RI), said. “We’ve put more stress on state delivery systems because they have to cope with this interruption. All of these things are avoidable and should have been avoided.”

In the beginning of March, Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) temporarily blocked the extension, but the benefits were only lost for several hours. Now, under Coburn, people could go days without benefits.

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