Not enough has been made of the expletive-laced response from Mr Bunning in response to the plea to extend unemployment benefits. Given the economic evidence that unemployment benefits help the economy - by improving consumer spending - the GOP continues to fight them. Is this because they don't want the economy to improve, since it would help Obama and the Democrats?
But that’s not how Republicans see it. Here’s what Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona, the second-ranking Republican in the Senate, had to say when defending Mr. Bunning’s position (although not joining his blockade): unemployment relief “doesn’t create new jobs. In fact, if anything, continuing to pay people unemployment compensation is a disincentive for them to seek new work.”
In Mr. Kyl’s view, then, what we really need to worry about right now — with more than five unemployed workers for every job opening, and long-term unemployment at its highest level since the Great Depression — is whether we’re reducing the incentive of the unemployed to find jobs. To me, that’s a bizarre point of view — but then, I don’t live in Mr. Kyl’s universe.
[From Op-Ed Columnist - Senator Bunning’s Universe - NYTimes.com]
Instead, we get a clear view of the priorities of the GOP: estate tax, benefiting the richest 0.25% of Americans. Again, the GOP shows its strategy - gain power by appealing to the social conservatives using abortion, gun rights, and the like, and use this power to benefit the richest of the rich.
Consider, in particular, the position that Mr. Kyl has taken on a proposed bill that would extend unemployment benefits and health insurance subsidies for the jobless for the rest of the year. Republicans will block that bill, said Mr. Kyl, unless they get a “path forward fairly soon” on the estate tax.
Now, the House has already passed a bill that, by exempting the assets of couples up to $7 million, would leave 99.75 percent of estates tax-free. But that doesn’t seem to be enough for Mr. Kyl; he’s willing to hold up desperately needed aid to the unemployed on behalf of the remaining 0.25 percent. That’s a very clear statement of priorities.
[From Op-Ed Columnist - Senator Bunning’s Universe - NYTimes.com]
