By a 57-41 margin, the Senate tried, but failed, to cut off debate on even considering the $110 billion legislation.
If it had passed, the bill would have extended jobless benefits and provided some money – though not as much as the Democratic Obama administration sought and labor campaigned for – to retain teachers, fire fighters, police and state and municipal workers. But it would not have extended COBRA benefits, and a $25-per-week increase in jobless benefits was axed after senators complained about the bill’s cost.
But Democrats needed 60 votes to cut off the debate, while 41 “no” votes would keep the filibuster going. Fifty-five Democrats and two independents voted to cut off debate. Forty Republicans and Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., voted “no.” Sens. Robert Byrd, D-W. Va., and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, were absent.
Union leaders and allies were outraged. AFSCME President Gerald McEntee, who lobbied hard for the proposed aid, said the GOP will be to blame if those state and local workers are without jobs this fall and when the economy slides backwards.
“Senate Republicans are on the verge of killing the Senate jobs bill. Their reckless filibuster and obstructionist actions will force devastating cuts in public services and major job losses in both the public and private sectors. Increased unemployment will lead to larger deficits. Republicans will be to blame when workers lose their jobs and our economy lapses back into a recession,” he declared.
Tom McMahon, acting executive director of labor-backed Americans United for Change, was also caustic. “Haven’t Republicans in Congress cost enough Americans their jobs already?” he asked.
After pointing out GOP policies during the Bush administration caused the current crash, and the GOP opposed past recovery efforts, too, McMahon warned that failure of this bill will cause immediate hurt. The GOP wants to cut the deficit, instead.
“Interestingly, the same Republicans who are drawing this illogical line in the sand on the short-term deficit had no problem coming up with the money to bail out the Wall Street banks,” McMahon said. “They had no problems throwing Bush’s prescription drug program or the war in Iraq on the nation’s credit card.”
He also said killing the jobs bill would really increase, not cut, the deficit that the GOP worries about. “Fewer jobs mean less tax revenue and more people seeking public assistance,” McMahon explained.
Mark Gruenberg writes for Press Associates, Inc., news service. Used by permission.
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By a 57-41 margin, the Senate tried, but failed, to cut off debate on even considering the $110 billion legislation.
If it had passed, the bill would have extended jobless benefits and provided some money – though not as much as the Democratic Obama administration sought and labor campaigned for – to retain teachers, fire fighters, police and state and municipal workers. But it would not have extended COBRA benefits, and a $25-per-week increase in jobless benefits was axed after senators complained about the bill’s cost.
But Democrats needed 60 votes to cut off the debate, while 41 “no” votes would keep the filibuster going. Fifty-five Democrats and two independents voted to cut off debate. Forty Republicans and Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., voted “no.” Sens. Robert Byrd, D-W. Va., and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, were absent.
Union leaders and allies were outraged. AFSCME President Gerald McEntee, who lobbied hard for the proposed aid, said the GOP will be to blame if those state and local workers are without jobs this fall and when the economy slides backwards.
“Senate Republicans are on the verge of killing the Senate jobs bill. Their reckless filibuster and obstructionist actions will force devastating cuts in public services and major job losses in both the public and private sectors. Increased unemployment will lead to larger deficits. Republicans will be to blame when workers lose their jobs and our economy lapses back into a recession,” he declared.
Tom McMahon, acting executive director of labor-backed Americans United for Change, was also caustic. “Haven’t Republicans in Congress cost enough Americans their jobs already?” he asked.
After pointing out GOP policies during the Bush administration caused the current crash, and the GOP opposed past recovery efforts, too, McMahon warned that failure of this bill will cause immediate hurt. The GOP wants to cut the deficit, instead.
“Interestingly, the same Republicans who are drawing this illogical line in the sand on the short-term deficit had no problem coming up with the money to bail out the Wall Street banks,” McMahon said. “They had no problems throwing Bush’s prescription drug program or the war in Iraq on the nation’s credit card.”
He also said killing the jobs bill would really increase, not cut, the deficit that the GOP worries about. “Fewer jobs mean less tax revenue and more people seeking public assistance,” McMahon explained.
Mark Gruenberg writes for Press Associates, Inc., news service. Used by permission.