New York (CNNMoney.com) – Department of Transportation secretary Ray LaHood on Monday blamed a senator's filibuster for furloughing thousands of federal employees and threatening state jobs while shutting down highway construction projects nationwide.
"As American families are struggling in tough economic times, I am keenly disappointed that political games are putting a stop to important construction projects around the country," wrote LaHood, in a press release. "This means that construction workers will be sent home from job sites because federal inspectors must be furloughed."
LaHood was referring to the one-man filibuster of Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky., who has blocked a bill that would, among other things, provide a short-term extension of the Highway Trust Fund, which is a federal fund set up to pay for transportation projects around the country.
Bunning spokesman Mike Reynard did not speak directly about the job disruptions cited by LaHood, when asked about it by CNNMoney.com, but he reiterated Bunning's belief that if 100 senators support the bill, they should come up with the $10 billion to fund it on a pay-as-you-go basis.
"Sen. Bunning supports this bill," said Reynard. "He believes it's essential, and he believes we should pass it. But he believes we should pay for it. "
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
Bunning is out of touch, just like McCain.
And where was he when he voted for the Iraq war with no costs included in the budget? Why wasn't he asking about "pay as you go" when he voted for Bush's tax cuts for the rich?
another shining example from the "Party of No" concerning their obstructionist ways. Thank you Republicans for keeping people out of work. This better not effect the Unemployment check that I am receiving
He is just following the Obama Pay As You Go law. He did the right thing!
It is about time that someone, ANYONE in Washington starts asking that simple question ' now that we as a Nation are financially destitute, and completly dependant on borrowed money from China – that we have no means of paying back, how are we going to pay for this one? Our liberal, socialist politicians are a sad joke on the tax payers.
But you were totaly against Pay-Go right mr bunning? Every one of you clowns that call yourself republicans voted that down. Why are you SO concerned about Pay-Go now?
Bunning is absolutely correct. How will it be paid for? It's a simple question really. It's a question that every single one of us makes on a daily basis when we decide to purchase something. This is just another example of what's wrong in Washington. How about this.....figure out how it can be payed for and then make the decision. How about all of that unused democrat slush fund...ooops, I mean stimulus money?
Obama has been chirping for a year now about PayGo but, as usual, Obama's empty words are "just words". The guy shamelessly and repeatedly says one thing and then does something altogether different.