WASHINGTON — Jobless benefits suddenly ended for some laid-off workers, Medicare payments to doctors were delayed and 2,000 federal transportation workers were sent home Monday in a spending dispute tinged with election- year politics.
Democrats seized on the impasse to portray Republicans as obstructionists willing to block popular programs that create jobs and provide relief to the unemployed. Adding its voice to the flap, the White House said it was trying to “shame” Republican Sen. Jim Bunning of Kentucky for single-handedly blocking the $10 billion extension.
In fact, it appeared the spat would have little impact on ordinary Americans because lawmakers expect to resolve the dispute this week.
But in the meantime, 41 highway projects were to be shut down because federal inspectors were off the job, and the Obama administration ordered Medicare billing contractors not to pay any claims from doctors for the first 10 business days of March.
Most laid-off workers receiving unemployment benefits won’t be affected — unless the impasse drags on — but those seeking payment extensions won’t be able to get them.
“Six times last week, Democrats asked to extend their unemployment benefits for a short time while they work on a longer extension. Six times, Republicans said no,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. “The Republicans in the Senate are standing between these families and the help they need while these benefits expire.”
Republicans have been largely silent on the impasse, with several defending Bunning’s right as a senator to slow the legislation. Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, said Bunning correctly argues that the bill ought to be paid for, but he predicted that it would pass.
Bunning, who is not seeking re-election, has single-handedly held up a bill since Thursday that would extend the programs for 30 days.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs called out Bunning on Friday and Monday, saying, “Sometimes even using their names doesn’t create the shame that you would think it would.”
Bunning said he opposed the extension because it would add to the budget deficit, already projected to hit a record $1.56 trillion this year. Bunning proposed to pay for the extension with unspent money from last year’s massive economic recovery package, but Democrats objected.
The House passed the short-term extension Thursday while lawmakers consider how to address the issues long-term.
CDOT work on track for now
In Colorado, the impasse over unemployment benefits will have no immediate effect on road construction projects under the control of the Colorado Department of Transportation, said spokeswoman Stacey Stegman.
“We front all of our projects with state funds, then submit to the federal government for reimbursement,” she said. “We can carry these projects for a week, maybe two. If it goes beyond that, we will have to look at not starting any new projects.”
CDOT files daily for reimbursements, averaging $20 million to $30 million a month, she said. Current projects include replacing bridges at West Hampden Avenue and South Wadsworth Boulevard and resurfacing portions of C-470 between Interstate 25 and Santa Fe Boulevard. A new project would be widening the West Alameda Avenue bridges over I-25, which will be a $37 million project, she said.
“We’ve had this happen in the past,” Stegman said. “The Federal Transportation Projects Bill, a six-year bill, expired last September. We’ve been operating under a continuing-resolution bill, which they pass while debating the main bill. We hope this clears up this week.”
Mike McPhee, The Denver Post
