When the Senate reconvened last January, Democrats had an opportunity to change the Senate rules, altering or eliminating the filibuster and individual holds. Fearful that a few DINOs might goose-step with the Republicans, Harry Reid (D-NV) had no spine for the floor fight and backed down in exchange for a gentlemen’s agreement from Republicans to stop their obstruction. It lasted almost a week. Now Tom Coburn (R-OK) is holding the jobs of 80,000 workers hostage to blackmail the Senate, an act of economic terrorism.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid admonished Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) on Wednesday, suggesting that he was acting like a “dictator” in blocking transportation legislation and that his action could put 80,000 people out of work by this weekend.
While Reid did not name names in his floor speech, Coburn is unhappy about a provision of the House–passed bill that temporarily extends funding for the Federal Aviation Administration and highway projects: a requirement that states set aside some surface transportation money for bike paths, museums and other such projects.
Coburn denied Wednesday that he’s filibustering the bill, but his spokesman has said the senator will use “all the tools at his disposal” to strip the provision from the bill.
The Senate must pass the measure and send it to President Barack Obama by Friday to avert another partial shutdown of the FAA, similar to the one earlier this summer that furloughed 4,000 FAA workers and froze 75,000 airport construction jobs.
“It’s a pretty good way to legislate around here, be a dictator and say, ‘Either take this or leave it.’ That isn’t how things work around here,” said Reid, a Nevada Democrat. “We have to have votes on issues to find out how people feel. I’m convinced his issue would lose overwhelmingly, but he’s holding this legislation up. And we are in a position that … we cannot get to this bill prior to Friday when the FAA expires.”
“So it’s unfortunate that’s the position we’re in,” he added. “One senator is holding this up … and if this continues, we will have about 80,000 people out of work by Saturday.”… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <Politico>
The natural instinct is to blame Tom Coburn, but we need to understand that he is just an actor playing a roll. This is not his individual doing. It is the policy of the Republican Party.
Harry Reid should have known that a promise from Republicans is worthless. When the opportunity to change the rules comes again, if Democrats still hold a majority in the Senate, I hope they will replace Harry Reid with a senator that has a pair.
12 Responses to “Republican terrorist holds 80,000 jobs hostage”
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Seems to me- a big part of what is going on ; Reid is not the only one who needs to grow some balls– The Dems do–or replace the shriveled up teeny balls they are displaying now-
If my language is too blunt– I’m an Ole lady— so forgive me
Phyllis, I could not agree more.
The FAA does nothing to protect travelers. The FAA is only concerned with feeding itself, and it is a harm to the aviation industry. The FAA jobs to not add any value to the economy and the country would be better off as a whole if the FAA were entirely eliminated. These 80K people should get some real jobs that actually add value to society. Right now they are nothing but financial leeches on the taxpayers.
And on what, may I ask do you base that? In my research, I have found nothing to support what you’re saying.
Do they take turns being the asshole on the floor?
They just keep passing that damned tinfoil hat around. Or do they each have their own?
Patty, I think it’s a community hat. The “asshole” is usually a Senator in a safe seat that is not up for election in 2012.
I really wish someone would just get rid of Harry Reid. He and other Democrats have a severe lack of balls required to do the job. I wish there was a party that would rally around the notion of -not- cowering before the fascists and theocrats.
Alex, I agree about Reid. Regarding another party, the deck is stacked. Our best hope is what we did here in Oregon. We elected progressive Democrats.
What the hell do bike paths, museums & other projecks have to do with the FAA & road rpojects. We here in the Philadelphia area have the Delaware River Port Authority that is suppose to use the tolls for upkeep of the bridges, an then we find out that they’ve spent thousands on Community relations. They’ve given money to museums and other organizations that have nothing to do with the bridges. Some of which have political connections.
Fred, the pork was added before the bill left the House. Because Republicans are in power there, the get two thirds of it. Without it, Republicans refused to pass it.
If I understand this correctly, we have a House of Rep controlled by the Republicans that have passed a bill that now rests in the Senate. A Republican senator is holding up the passing of this bill because he wants something taken out of the bill that House Republicans insisted on being in the bill. Am I right here? This looks like pure and simple obstructionism while playing with the lives of 80,000 workers! Not only that, the Republicans look like a group of morons that can’t even agree on the little details. I guess it is more important though to agree on the big things like ‘how fast can we screw the middle and lower classes so that our masters get their greedy gold.’ One of these days, all the Republicans will get their 10 pieces of silver for selling their country to the corporations and wealthy.
That’s pretty close Lynn. The program he didn’t like (bike paths, pedestrian access, etc.) was obtained in return for pork Republicans demanded to pass the bill. Coburn want’s to remove just the Democrats’ part of the deal.