"Renegade" Kentucky GOP Senator Jim Bunning, who has decided to block passage of legislation, stating that he did not want to add to the budget deficit, caused numerous furloughs of critical construction projects among other things. The blockage will halt federal reimbursements to states for highway programs, as well as safety programs, such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (M.A.D.D.), and national media campaigns, such as the "Click It or Ticket," and "Drunk Driving: Over the Limit. Under Arrest." Bunning is not up for reelection and he did not offer comments on Monday.
In my opinion, the "lone gunman" approach, as in Senator Bunning not acting with the GOP blessing, sounds all to fake. I can imagine that the GOP will increasingly use retiring legislators to hold up important legislation, because in theory, they would have nothing to lose. I can imagine that the GOP learned all to well from their last attack against the Democrats, with Senator Richard Shelby's failed attempt to block over 70 nominees by the Obama administration until he received several Alabama earmarks, and have shifted to a safer bet - someone who can offer the appearance that they are acting alone, and against the best interest of Americans, while the party can take the position against the lone legislator's actions.
Great minds fall in the same ditch, Dave. Bunning was my lead article today. He's just the fromt man for what the GOP wants to do.
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