Sen. Jim Bunning is backing down from his filibuster.

After blocking $10 billion in stimulus spending that has halted road and other projects and some unemployment benefits, he has relented, responding to pressure from members of his own party who worried that the impasse could ultimately hurt Republicans more than Democrats.

On the Senate floor Tuesday evening Bunning, a Kentucky Republican, said he wanted the bill to be paid for and would introduce an amendment to that end, signaling that he would let the underlying bill move forward.