In an effort to defend himself from Del. Steve Shannon’s recent argument [1] on unemployment benefits, Sen. Ken Cuccinelli wrote the following in his most recent “Cuccinelli Compass”:
If Delegate Steve Shannon or his fellow Dems thought that the proposed expansion of the different types of unemployment benefits was such a great idea, why didn’t they propose it as their own bill in the last General Assembly session? Answer: because they know it really wasn’t a very good idea.
In this debate, it’s important for all of you to understand that unemployment benefits available to Virginians involuntarily laid off from work have been extended from 26 weeks to up to 59. The problem with the latest proposal is the federal government shoving down our throat the addition of new categories of unemployed that would qualify for unemployment insurance (e.g., part-time employees). This is just one example of an over reach of federal power, and if Steve Shannon wants to get in the habit of defending such federal action, I look forward to the opportunity to “discuss” it with him in this campaign.
Cuccinelli is loving the fact that Shannon has decided to single him out on this issue, as it enables him to do just what he is doing – present himself as the Republican candidate who has already moved beyond the nomination scuffle to the general election battle.