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Youngstown Vindicator...
Defeat of Obama’s jobs bill opens door to new strategy
Thu, October 13, 2011 

You’ve got to hand it to the Re- publicans, nothing, not even the economic well-being of the nation, will divert them from their goal of rendering Democratic President Barack Obama a one-termer. A year ago, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., grabbed headlines when he publicly declared that defeating Obama in 2012 would be the GOP’s top priority in the new Congress. His message was clear: Republicans would not support any Democratic economic initiatives that could result in jobs being created, thereby giving the president a win to take into next year’s election. 

Thus, it came as no surprise Tuesday that Obama’s $447 billion jobs bill died under the weight of a filibuster. Forty-six Republicans, joined by two Democrats, deep-sixed the measure. Sixty votes in the 100-member Senate were needed to keep the president’s economic recovery initiative alive. 

When the plan was unveiled several months ago, Republicans were quick to dismiss it as a non-starter because it contained a tax increase on those making more than $200,000 to pay for the spending. The version that was considered by the Senate had a tax surcharge on millionaires and $175 billion in new spending on roads, school repairs and other infrastructure. It also included Social Security payroll tax cuts for workers and businesses and other tax relief totaling $270 billion. And the measure provided aid for the jobless and financial help to local governments to avoid layoffs of teachers, firefighters and police officers. 

Since it was no secret going into Tuesday’s Senate session that the Republicans would put up roadblocks, President Obama said during a visit to Pittsburgh that he would attempt to build support for the package by submitting it piecemeal. In other words, each provision would be contained in a separate bill. 

There’s political advantage to this approach: It would force the Republicans to explain why they support certain provisions and oppose others, rather than letting them hide under a blanket rejection. 

Indeed, it would be instructive to see how Sen. McConnell and other members of the GOP caucus on Capitol Hill can justify their support of tax cuts to corporations, while opposing any funding for jobless benefits, or money for local governments so police officers, firefighters and school teachers can remain on the job. 

The piecemeal strategy would also force members of Congress who oppose spending on roads, bridges and other infrastructure to explain to their constituents why, in the midst of high unemployment in the building trades, such an investment is a waste of money. 

Taking credit 

During the time of the first economic stimulus program, Republicans were harsh in their criticism of the billions of dollars spent on capital projects, yet they posed for pictures at ground breakings and even took credit for improvements that were made in various congressional districts. 

The GOP has continued to argue that giving business owners tax breaks will result in a major reinvestment in America, thereby creating jobs, even though the Bush tax cuts did not prevent the economy’s collapse during the final months of Republican President George W. Bush’s tenure. 

In the end, however, Republicans in Congress should have to answer this question: Is the defeat of President Obama in 2012 of such great importance that not even the nation’s economic recovery matters? 

Read this and other articles at the Youngstown Vindicator

 

 

 



 
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