Sen. Kyl Says Republicans Will Support Temporary COBRA Extension
The Hill: "The Senate will pass the stalled temporary extension of certain unemployment benefits but a yearlong extension might be a tougher sell, Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) said Sunday. Republicans and Democrats had reached an agreement on the temporary extension last week but Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) objected to unanimous consent on the $10 billion measure" (Fabian, 2/28).
Wall Street Journal: "A stalemate on the Senate floor means unemployment benefits will expire today, but the chamber is expected to tackle it again this week. ... 'All Sen. Bunning was saying, quite correctly, is it ought to be paid for,' Kyl said [on Fox News Sunday]. 'Congress just passed the so-called pay-go legislation which is supposed to require that we find offsets or other savings if we're going to spend money. So the first thing we do? We exempt this bill from it.' Bunning is not seeking re-election this year" (Davis, 2/28).
McClatchy: "Most people already getting extra jobless benefits are unlikely to be affected. Those who will feel the impact could include people who've exhausted their 26 weeks of state benefits and qualify for more aid under federal guidelines. Anyone laid off after March 1 no longer would be able to get federal help to pay health insurance premiums; the program now pays 65 percent of the cost for certain workers" (Lightman, 2/28).
Louisville Courier-Journal: "Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo and Attorney General Jack Conway stopped attacking one another Saturday to focus on the man whose seat in the U.S. Senate they want to take. ... 'I think I think we an all agree the actions of our junior senator [Bunning] the other night does not speak for the Democrats, independents and Republicans of Kentucky,' Conway told a crowd of more than 200 at a Democratic dinner in Fayette County. Mongiardo did him one better, calling on Conway to join him outside Bunning's offices in Louisville and Lexington on Tuesday to protest Bunning's actions - if the Senate can't pass the legislation on Monday. As it stands now, no Senate votes on the issue are scheduled until Tuesday" (Gerth, 2/27).