If you happened to have turned on C-SPAN in the last half hour you may have noticed the Senate was full of senators but no vote going on. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid convened the upper chamber to try and get consensus on how to proceed after Senator Tom Coburn, an Oklahoma Republican, objected to proceeding to a one-month extension of unemployment benefits. Sound familiar? It’s exactly the same thing that happened with Senator Jim Bunning, a Kentucky Republican, a month ago. Last time, though, Dems forced Bunning into what was essentially a one-man five-day filibuster which the country watched in horror as the benefits expired. Both Coburn and Bunning are upset the bills were unpaid for.
This time, Reid has gathered the whole Senate together to figure out what to do. Given that the Senate was meant to adjourn on Friday for a much-anticipated two-week Easter recess, a lot of senators who are now having to cancel or postpone flights home or abroad are probably none-too-pleased with Mr. Coburn. Reid can overcome the objection but that would mean voting at midnight on Sunday at the earliest. Though, Coburn’s objection could have a silver lining for at least one senator: Reid was probably not looking forward to the massive Tea Party protest led by Sarah Palin due to be held Saturday in his home town of Searchlight, Nevada.