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Sen. Tom Coburn (Dr. No) Blocks Jobless Aid Extension

Yesterday I asked Will Republicans Try to Block Jobless Benefits (Again)?

We just got the answer.

Republican Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma has pulled a Bunning and objected to allowing a vote on an emergency 30-day continuation of expanded unemployment insurance and COBRA subsidies.

Sen. Coburn — already well known in the Senate as “Dr. No” for his obstructionist tactics — appears to have the backing of the Senate Republican leadership.

With the expanded unemployment insurance programs slated to expire shortly on April 5 an estimated one million jobless Americans will lose their benefits if Coburn and the Republicans succeed in blocking the emergency measure.

Just two weeks ago, the Senate passed a bill including an extension of these and other programs through 2010 with support of all but one Democrat and six Republicans. But because that bill differed from the version passed in the House, Congress will need to iron out those differences. In the meantime, though, the April 5 expiration of the current extension of these programs is fast approaching.

With nearly 15 million Americans unemployed and six job seekers for every job opening, unemployment insurance is an urgent need that cannot be allowed to lapse. Contact your Senators. Tell them they must pass an emergency 30-day continuation of the federal unemployment and COBRA programs.

Also, these six Republican Senators voted just two weeks ago to extend these programs for a year:

Sen. Collins (ME), Sen. Snowe (ME), Sen. Voinovich (OH), Sen. Bond (MO), Sen. Murkowski (AK) and Sen. Vitter (LA). Call (202) 224-3121 and urge them to vote for the emergency 30-day unemployment aid extension.

It’s time for us to say “no” to Dr. No.

Tags: jobless benefits extentsion