All Entries in the "Jim Bunning" Category

Dems spending little on first ads in U.S. Senate race

By Ryan Alessi – ralessi@herald-leader.com

All four major candidates in Kentucky’s U.S. Senate race are on the air with television ads 75 days before the May 18 primary, but only those who watch carefully will see the Democrats’ spots.

Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo and Attorney General Jack Conway have bought just a handful of 30-second time slots this week. Republicans Rand Paul and Trey Grayson, on the other hand, have blanketed the airwaves with large ad buys, particularly in Lexington, which reaches key concentrations of GOP primary voters in Central and Southern Kentucky.

Paul’s campaign bought 72 ads on WKYT-TV between March 1 and March 18 and has already purchased air time from April 5 through the May 18 election, according to the public ad file at WKYT.

Grayson spent $77,000 in the Lexington market this week and has 54 ads airing on WKYT during much of its programming, including the Oprah Winfrey Show, Late Night with David Letterman and prime-time CBS shows.

In contrast, Democratic candidate Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo’s campaign spent a total of $2,571 in the Lexington media market to air his first ad on Thursday and Friday. The ad will air twice on WKYT — once during each day’s 5 p.m. newscast.

Mongiardo’s campaign spokesman Kim Geveden acknowledged that “it’s a small buy,” even compared to Conway, who purchased five spots on WKYT for $1,065 between Wednesday and Friday.

“Jack Conway has the money. Daniel Mongiardo has the people,” Geveden said. “That’s what the race is going to come down to: money versus people.”

NewsTune: ‘Jim Bunning’s placed a hold on my heart’

Minnesota Public Radio’s In The Loop program has produced a “newstune” about U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning’s one-man stand against extending unemployment benefits earlier this week.

Bunning’s flap energizing Democrats who want his Senate seat

By Jack Brammer – jbrammer@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT — U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning ended his singular stand against extending unemployment benefits Tuesday night, but the national flap he created may have long-lasting effects on the Kentucky race to replace him.

Democrats seeking his seat moved quickly to capitalize on the controversy, holding a protest rally on Tuesday and launching a television ad on Wednesday that hammers the lame duck senator and the Republican Senate candidates who supported him.

Several political analysts said Wednesday that Bunning’s stance, which garnered ridicule and praise across the nation, provides an opening for Democrats who had been relegated to second-tier status in recent weeks as Kentucky’s Republican primary generated a national buzz.

Analysts were not surprised that Attorney General Jack Conway began airing a TV ad Wednesday that accused Republicans Trey Grayson and Rand Paul of “shamefully” supporting Bunning, a Hall of Fame pitcher, who Conway said was “throwing high and wild, hitting working families where it hurts.”

“This is a great chance for Democrats to energize their base,” said Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics.

Bunning news roundup

Protest held outside Bunning’s Lexington office | Lexington Herald-Leader:

Senate votes to revive programs after Bunning relents | Lexington Herald-Leader

Joel Pett cartoon | Lexington Herald-Leader:

Days later, as a deal emerges, Bunning backs down | The Washington Post

Kentuckians go nose to nose to support, condemn Bunning | The Courier-Journal

Senate extends benefits after Bunning relents | The Courier-Journal

Bunning’s block impacts KY Sen race | MSNBC

Obama bunts on Bunning slam | NPR

Bunning’s abrasive behavior spans careers | CNN

McDermott on Bunning’s filibuster: “Abuse of power” | Seattle Times

Jim Bunning strikes a blow for fiscal sanity | The Star Ledger

Senator relents and jobless bill passes | The New York Times

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jack Conway on MSNBC’s Hardball:

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Principle versus practical: Bunning stunt highlights what’s at stake in today’s Texas election | Dallas Morning News

Deal reached to end Senator’s holdout | The Wall Street Journal

Senate clears Jim Bunning roadblock | Politico

Bunning filibuster ends, jobless benefits will be extended | The Hill

Bunning Ends Filibuster, Senate to Votes to Extend Unemployment | ABC NEWS:

McConnell fields questions about Bunning | ABC NEWS:

Deal with GOP senator ends one-man blockade | MSNBC:

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Bunning block good for Dems? | CNN:

Bunning relents on jobless benefits bill

MORE COVERAGE:

• Dueling demonstrators rally outside Bunning’s Lexington office
• McConnell predicts Bunning’s blockade will end soon
• Bunning again blocks jobless benefits
• Jon Stewart mocks Bunning on The Daily Show
• Bunning refuses to back down

By Halimah Abdullah and David Lightman – McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON _ Politically embattled Kentucky Sen. Jim Bunning on Tuesday ended his often angry, highly unpopular one-man stand against additional funding for jobless benefits, highway and transit programs and other government initiatives Tuesday night, finally agreeing to permit a vote on the measure.

Bunning had objected last week to the $10 billion package, which would have extended several expiring government programs for a month. He wanted the provisions paid for; other senators contended these were emergency measures and did not need to be offset with spending cuts.

But the pressure steadily grew. Tuesday, the Senate spent most of the day debating the measure — with most senators, including some from Bunning’s own Republican party, pleading for him to relent.

Tuesday evening, he did.

“I hope Senate Democrats tonight vote for their own pay-fors and show Americans that they are committed to fiscal discipline,” Bunning said. “I will be watching them closely and checking off the hypocrites one by one.”

Tuesday night’s vote focused on Bunning’s amendment to offset spending in the Democrat-backed 30 day extension for funding of jobless benefits, among other government initiatives. Later this week, there will be two additional votes on his proposals to offset the costs of a longer-term benefits bill.

Dueling demonstrators rally outside Bunning’s Lexington office

MORE COVERAGE:

• McConnell predicts Bunning’s blockade will end soon
• Bunning again blocks jobless benefits
• Jon Stewart mocks Bunning on The Daily Show
• Bunning refuses to back down

By Linda B. Blackford – lblackford@herald-leader.com

Dueling demonstrators went head to head in Lexington over Kentucky Sen. Jim Bunning’s one-man blockade of short-term funding for a host of federal programs that expired Sunday, leaving thousands without unemployment benefits.

“This is about Republican hypocrisy,” declared Ron Moore, an unemployed Louisville resident who drove to Bunning’s Lexington office on Tuesday to demonstrate against the Kentucky Republican and in support of Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo, one of the Democrats trying to win Bunning’s soon-to-be open seat.

Nearby, Lexington resident Mike Stephens held a sign that read “Thank you, Jim Bunning,” part of a group that supports Bunning’s stand and the candidacy of one of the Republicans who’d like to replace him, Rand Paul.

“We do not need government to get any bigger,” Stephens said.

Crowds that huddled around Mongiardo chanted “Stand with Dr. Dan,” while people holding Rand Paul signs shouted back “Pay Go, Pay Go,” in reference to Bunning’s insistence on finding funds for the $10 billion spending bill before he drops his opposition.

About seven Lexington police officers stood around the service road off of Corporate Drive, occasionally moving people who tried to interrupt speakers. There appeared to be more than 100 people who attended the rallies.

McConnell predicts Bunning’s blockade will end soon

MORE COVERAGE:

• Bunning again blocks jobless benefits
• Jon Stewart mocks Bunning on The Daily Show
• Bunning refuses to back down

By ANDREW TAYLOR – Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats ramped up the political pressure Tuesday on a Republican stubbornly blocking a stopgap measure to extend help for the jobless and keep federal highway dollars flowing.

But an impasse involving Sen. Jim Bunning of Kentucky that has caused federal furloughs and threatens the unemployment benefits of hundreds of thousands of people continues, even as GOP leaders pressed for a graceful exit from the unexpected political tempest — which has subjected Republicans to withering media coverage and cost the party politically.

Democrats used to being on the defensive over health care and the deficit were not in a compromising mood, signaling that they largely want the irascible Bunning to surrender rather than agree to a set of votes on ways to defray the $10 billion cost of the measure.

Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky — who has a strained relationship with his homestate colleague — said that he is working with Democrats to set up a vote to pass the legislation, which has been single-handedly held up by Bunning despite virtually unanimous support from the other 99 senators.

“We’re going to be able to work out the short-term extension in the very near future and we’re in the process of working on that now,” McConnell said.

Bunning again blocks jobless benefits

MORE COVERAGE:

• Jon Stewart mocks Bunning on The Daily Show
• Bunning refuses to back down

By ANDREW TAYLOR – Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Jim Bunning on Tuesday again blocked the Senate from extending unemployment benefits and health insurance subsidies for the jobless.

The Kentucky Republican objected Tuesday to a request by Maine Sen. Susan Collins, a fellow Republican, to pass a 30-day extension of jobless benefits and other expired measures. The measure would also extend highway programs and prevent a big cut in Medicare payments to doctors.

Bunning has been single-handedly blocking the stopgap legislation since Thursday, to the increasing discomfort of Republicans like Collins. Collins said 500 people from her state would lose their unemployment benefits this week, while doctors will soon have to absorb a 21 percent cuts in their Medicare reimbursements.

“This issue is so important to senators on both sides of the aisle,” Collins said.

Frustrated Democrats have been lobbing attacks at Bunning and his fellow Republicans for days. Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., implored Bunning to relent and allow a vote.

But Democrats are also reaping political gains by attacking Bunning and his fellow Republicans. All three major cable news networks carried Tuesday’s proceedings live, and two other members of the Democratic leadership, Charles Schumer of New York and Patty Murray of Washington, came to the floor to attack Republicans for blocking the legislation.

Jim Bunning news roundup

Here’s a roundup of headlines and videos about Kentucky Senator Jim Bunning’s blockade of a spending bill. His move has left thousands without unemployment benefits across the nation and brought the furlough of 2,000 federal transportation workers.

Bunning refuses to back down | Lexington Herald-Leader

Bunning’s callous grandstanding | Herald-Leader editorial

Bunning again blocks unemployment benefits effort | The Courier-Journal

Republicans rip on Jim Bunning | Politico

Majority spins Bunning gold | Roll Call

Dems seek to raise pressure on Jim Bunning’s block | CBS News

Must-pass bills falter in unpopular Congress as Dems blame Republicans | The Hill

Jim Bunning’s fiscal hardball jams GOP |Politico

Ky. candidates spar over fillibuster | Politico

Smokies road work halts | Knoxville News Sentinel

The Senator who dared believe in ‘paygo’ | San Francisco Chronicle

How the GOP unleashed a monster, and brought its Jim Bunning problem onto itself | Business Insider

Jim Bunning costs 8,000 NYers checks today | New York Daily News

Sen. Jim Bunning puts brakes on Transportation workers | The Washington Post

Wild pitches from Sen. Bunning | The Washington Post

2,000 furloughs linked to impasse in Congress | The New York Times

One-man filibuster draws fire | Los Angeles Times

Unemployed fear losing benefits as Republican senator filibusters to block extension | Chicago Tribune

Sen. Bunning is angry: ‘Excuse Me!’ | ABC News

Gridlock puts federal employees out | MSNBC

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (starting at 55 seconds into the video):

Bunning remains defiant | CNN:

Bunning gives ABC News the bird

ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl has video of an encounter he had on Monday with Republican U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning.

Kentucky’s junior senator is making national news by blocking passage of a funding bill for several programs, including unemployment benefits for more than 1 million people, that expired Sunday night.

In addition to the video, Karl reports:

Senator Bunning was even more expressive before the cameras arrived, using a little sign language.

When Senate producer Z. Byron Wolf spotted Bunning exiting his office, Bunning said, “I’m not talking to anybody.” When Wolf asked him to stay and talk to our cameras, Bunning walked toward the elevator and shot the middle finger over his head.

UPDATE: Here’s MSNBC’s Monday evening report on Bunning.

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