Bunning's last stand

Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) again on Monday objected to the passage of a temporary extension of certain unemployment and COBRA healthcare benefits.

Bunning took to the Senate floor in the afternoon to object to a unanimous consent motion that would have allowed the $10 billion measure to pass.

The Senate is set to pass the extensions as part of a larger tax extender bill that senators will vote on Tuesday as part of a deal struck between the Democratic and Republican leadership.

The retiring Kentucky senator first objected to the temporary extensions on Thursday because he said they are not funded. Democrats, though, have said that Bunning did not object to similar extensions without offsets in 2008. 

Bunning's move raised the ire of Democrats and others who wanted the expiring provisions renewed. Senate Democrats circulated information Monday saying that 2,000 Department of Transportation workers were put on furlough Monday because of Bunning's action.

In the Senate Monday, Bunning angrily refused to answer reporters' questions about his objection.

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