The U.S. Senate Republican caucus is up to its obstructionist ways yet again. Last night, Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) blocked the chamber from voting to extend unemployment benefits and COBRA subsidies for 30 days. Today, Sen. Jon Kyl's (R-AZ) office made a statement suggesting members of his party will continue to do so until Democrats agree to weaken and make permanent the federal estate tax, which imposes a fee on the assets of the richest Americans once they pass away. If no deal is struck, approximately 1 million workers will see their insurance expire next month.

For weeks last year, Republicans threw up procedural roadblocks as Democrats tried to extend unemployment insurance before ultimately voting in favor of the measure.