Collins: Bunning wouldn't relent on unemployment benefits

Maine GOP Sen. Susan Collins said she did her best this week to break a Senate logjam created by Sen. Jim Bunning (R), but that the Kentucky senator would not back down.

Bunning is blocking a package of unemployment benefit extensions and infrastructure projects across the country out of cost concerns. Collins said she approached Bunning privately.

"I hoped it would change the mind of Sen. Bunning if a fellow Republican tried to get him to relent, but so far that hasn't happened," Collins told The Hill. "I'm very concerned because the failure to act has real-life consequences for so many Americans, from unemployment workers in my state - 500 of whom have had their benefits expire - to doctors and health-care workers across the country who will start to refuse to treat seniors because of a huge cut in Medicare to small businesses who won't be able to get loans.

"He listened to me, but indicated that he would object."