The President versus the Senate

Senate Republicans voted to kill President Obama's jobs bill thereby denying millions of Americans the chance of meaningful employment.

At a rally in Pennsylvania, President Obama said, "Now, this is a moment of truth for the U.S. Senate. In front of them is a bill, a jobs bill, that independent economists have said would grow this economy and put people back to work. This is not my opinion; it's not my administration's opinion. This is people whose job it is for a living to analyze and evaluate what kind of impact certain policies would have. They've said this could grow the economy significantly and put significant numbers of Americans back to work. And no other jobs plan has that kind of support from economists--no plan from Congress, no plan from anybody."

The President has been crisscrossing the country tirelessly to promote the jobs bill and has pleaded with the Congress on behalf of the millions of unemployed Americans, and now it seemed to have all come to naught.

He continued his pleas, "It's a jobs bill with the kind of proposals that Democrats and Republicans have traditionally supported. It's a jobs bill that is entirely paid for by asking those of us who've been most fortunate, who've been incredibly blessed here in America, to contribute a little more to the country that contributed so much to our success."

Looking at what the bill will mean to his city, L.A. Mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa, stated, "Today's announcement by the Obama Administration is a major step forward in putting people back to work and creating a 21st century transit system in Los Angeles. Streamlining the Federal process for the Crenshaw/LAX light rail line project will help get construction started next year and create more than 15,000 quality jobs in Los Angeles."

The mayor was optimistic when he added, "I want to thank President Obama, Secretary LaHood and Federal Transit Administration officials for expediting the Crenshaw/LAX light rail project through the permitting and environmental review process."

But when the bill the Senate, its Republican members voted to kill the $447 billion jobs bill despite the weeks of barnstorming by President Barack Obama across the country. Forty-six Republicans joined with two Democrats to delay the plan. The roll call was kept open Tuesday night to allow Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen to vote. But it would have taken 60 votes in the 100-member Senate to keep the legislation alive, and though the Democrats have the numerical majority, they were not able to muster the needed 60 votes.

The plan would have included Social Security payroll tax cuts for workers and businesses and other tax relief totaling about $270 billion. There also was to be $175 billion in new spending on roads, school repairs and other infrastructure - as well as jobless aid and help to local governments to avoid layoffs of teachers, firefighters and police officers.

Republicans opposed the measure over its spending to stimulate the economy and its tax surcharge on millionaires and according to many economists, without the jobs bill, the frail economy would experience a downturn.

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