Government

Obama Jobs Bill Fails to Clear Senate Hurdle

Obama Jobs Bill Fails to Clear Senate HurdleWASHINGTON (The Blaze/AP) — Senate Republicans have voted to kill the White House jobs bill despite weeks of campaign-style barnstorming by President Barack Obama across the country.

Forty-six Republicans joined with two Democrats to filibuster the $447 billion plan.

That vote was not final. The roll call was kept open Tuesday night to allow Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H. to vote. But it would have taken 60 votes in the 100-member Senate to keep the legislation alive.

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.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

Despite President Barack Obama’s exhortations, the Senate prepared to swiftly kill his jobs package Tuesday and the White House and congressional leaders were already moving on to other ways to cut the nation’s painfully high unemployment without raising taxes.

Obama’s $447 billion jobs bill didn’t figure to get a single GOP vote, even after his weeks-long campaign-style effort to drum up support for a measure he said would reduce the jobless rate from its current 9.1 percent.

Anticipating defeat, Obama promised to try again in smaller bites. “If they don‘t pass the whole package we’re going to break it up into constituent parts” and try to push them through separately, Obama told members of his jobs council.

Still he pressed hard for Senate passage of the entire bill.

“Any senator who votes no should have to look you in the eye and tell you what exactly they’re opposed to,” Obama said to a union audience in Pittsburgh. Looking ahead to next year’s elections, he said, “I think they’ll have a hard time explaining why they voted no on this bill – other than the fact that I proposed it.”

In fact, Democratic defections appeared to threaten that the measure would fail to win a simple majority, much less the 60 votes needed to overcome a Republicans filibuster. Even some who were to vote to break the filibuster, including Jim Webb, D-Va., and Joe Lieberman, a Connecticut independent who aligns with Democrats, said they oppose the underlying measure.

Obama’s plan would combine Social Security payroll tax cuts for workers and businesses and other tax relief totaling about $270 billion with $175 billion in new spending on roads, school repairs and other infrastructure, as well as unemployment assistance and help to local governments to avoid layoffs of teachers, firefighters and police officers.

Obama says that the plan – more than half the size of his 2009 economic stimulus measure – would be an insurance policy against a double-dip recession and that continued economic intervention is essential given slower-than-hoped job growth.

“This is gut check time,” Obama said. “Right now, our economy needs a jolt. Right now. And today, the Senate of the United States has a chance to do something, right now, by voting for the American Jobs Act.”

Unlike the 2009 legislation, the current plan would be paid for with a 5.6 percent surcharge on income exceeding $1 million that would raise about $450 billion over the coming decade.

“Democrats‘ sole proposal is to keep doing what hasn’t worked – along with a massive tax hike that we know won’t create jobs,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Tuesday, saying there are 1.5 million fewer jobs than when Obama’s 2009 economic package became law. “Why on earth would you support an approach that we already know won’t work?” McConnell said.

Democratic support isn’t unanimous either. Moderates including Sens. Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Joe Manchin of West Virginia, both up for re-election next year in states where Obama figures to lose, may abandon Obama on this issue.

The White House and Democratic leaders say the great majority of Democrats will vote for the plan, however. Support among Democrats has been shored up by replacing Obama’s tax increases – particularly a proposal to limit the value of itemized deductions for families making more than $250,000 – with the surcharge on millionaires.

That millionaires proposal would hit about 392,000 households, according to an analysis by the Tax Policy Center, a Washington think tank. In 2013, the first year the tax would take effect, those wealthy households would see their taxes increase by an average of $110,500, according to the analysis.

Next in Congress, however, both the House and Senate will turn Wednesday to approving trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea that could create tens of thousands of jobs, one of the few areas of agreement between Republicans and the administration on boosting the economy.

In coming weeks and months, Democrats promise further votes on jobs. But it remains to be seen how much of that effort will involve more campaign-stoked battles with Republicans and how much will include seeking common ground in hopes of actually passing legislation.

Leaders of the GOP-controlled House have signaled they support tax cuts for small businesses and changes to jobless insurance to allow states to use unemployment funds for on-the-job training. And they‘ve signaled they’ll be willing to accept an extension of Obama’s 2 percentage point payroll tax cut. But stimulus-style spending is a nonstarter with the tea party-infused chamber.

Tuesday’s vote played out as disaffected crowds continued to occupy Wall Street, a square in Washington and parts of other cities around the country in protest of income inequality and related issues.

Obama advisers said they were working with Senate Democratic leaders on how and when to break out separate aspects of the overall jobs bill for votes.

Even before Tuesday’s defeat, the White House was casting the Senate vote as but the first act in what one Obama adviser called a long-term play – essentially, an autumn full of action to force Congress to take action on jobs. Senior Obama officials said it was important for the Senate to act to keep pressure on the Republican-led House.

The White House appears most confident that it will be win enactment to continue a 2-point payroll tax cut through 2012 and to extend emergency unemployment benefits to millions of people – if only because, in the White House view, Republicans won’t want to accept the harm of letting those provisions expire.

White House officials are also hopeful of ultimately garnering votes for the approval of infrastructure spending and tax credits for businesses that hire unemployed veterans.

Obama promised to press for quick action on public works spending.

“Having relevant businesses get behind an effort to move this infrastructure agenda forward is a priority,” Obama told corporate and labor leaders Tuesday.

“We’re going to need a push, I think, from the business community in particular in order to get this across the finish line,” he said.

Comments (67)

1 2
  • Smokey_Bojangles
    Posted on October 11, 2011 at 10:35pm

    Commies are the craziest Peoples.

    Report Post » Smokey_Bojangles  
    • Jaycen
      Posted on October 11, 2011 at 11:12pm

      It‘s Bush’s fault.

      Report Post » Jaycen  
    • realindependent
      Posted on October 12, 2011 at 3:30am

      Way to spin this The Blaze.. lol so gay sounding,but anyways, this was a vote to begin debate not a vote on the bill itself. And harry Reid invoked the nuclear option. so all it took was a simple majority to win. which the Demorcats got. So they will begin debate, now it probably wont pass a final vote. Your headline and story is so misleading it silly that you call yourself a news site. very sad attempt…

      Report Post » realindependent  
    • Quagmir
      Posted on October 12, 2011 at 3:02pm

      Looks like everyone got it wrong but you, Realindependent(so gay sounding). CNN, CBS, NBC, USA Today, Reuters and the list goes on. Only 5000 articles on it….

      Report Post » Quagmir  
  • Walkabout
    Posted on October 11, 2011 at 10:14pm

    Rush Limbaugh wrote the Headline for the Main Stream Media story 4 days ago.

    He said that the bill would not pass & Republicans would get the blame. Not all the Democrats voted for the bill. So WTF liberal media?

    Report Post »  
  • foundersadmirer
    Posted on October 11, 2011 at 10:03pm

    what ever happened to Obama’s campaign promise to post bills on the internet for 5 days so “we the People” can examine them then communicate with our reps??? … sounded like a good idea… transparency never looked so veiled! I guess, in the words of FORMER house majority leader Palosi, “You gotta pass the bill to know what’s in the bill! (embarrassing cute smile.. sort of)”

    Report Post » foundersadmirer  
  • roostercogburn
    Posted on October 11, 2011 at 9:42pm

    We all better hope most of it never see’s the light of day, he want’s a ton of money, just like before in his other big spending bill, the one that was almost a trillion and we had no jobs, turned out that money went to hire more government workers, or keep them from laying off some employe’s if they could not pay for them why did they need them in the first place.
    It’s time for budget cuts, real budget cuts, it will be the first time in the history of this country.

    Report Post » roostercogburn  
    • TXPilot
      Posted on October 11, 2011 at 9:51pm

      I’m sure Obama is thinking that it sure will be easier to get his agenda pushed through, once he has himself designated as Fuhrer Obama.

      Report Post » TXPilot  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on October 11, 2011 at 10:00pm

      And not one Senator mentioned either of these 2 facts: Very strange!

      On page 133 of President Obama’s “The American Job Act”, Sec.376. states;

      “Abrogation of State Immunity- A State shall not be immune under the 11th Amendment to the
      Constitution from a suit brought in a Federal court of competent jurisdiction for a violation of this Act.

      A State’s receipt or use of Federal financial assistance for any program or activity of a State shall constitute a waiver of sovereign immunity, under the 11th Amendment to the Constitution or otherwise, to a suit brought by an employee or applicant of that program or activity under this Act for a remedy authorized under Section 375(c) of this Act.”

      And:

      Article. I. Section. 7.
      Clause 1: All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.
      So what gives Obama the power to introduce a Bill that raises revenues?

      Report Post » The-Monk  
  • ColoradoMaverick
    Posted on October 11, 2011 at 9:38pm

    Ooooops! That wasn’t supposed to happen with a Democratically controlled Senate! Now what is Obama going to do? He can’t really blame the “do nothing” Senate like he would have blamed the “do nothing” Republican Congress. Omama… can you spell Back-fire?

    Report Post » ColoradoMaverick  
  • garbagecanlogic
    Posted on October 11, 2011 at 9:27pm

    Betcha Barry Soetero crys himself to sleep tonight.

    The U.S. Out Of The U.N.
    The U.N. Out Of The U.S.

    Report Post »  
  • crackerone
    Posted on October 11, 2011 at 9:22pm

    The American summer should be called “Obama’s Summer Eve”

    Report Post »  
  • kfrederic
    Posted on October 11, 2011 at 9:08pm

    WBAL termed this the “SNO-jobs” bill. Reflects my sentiment!

    Report Post » kfrederic  
  • herekittykitty
    Posted on October 11, 2011 at 9:06pm

    He’s always acting like everything has to be done right now, right this very second – “pushing” and “pressing” for passage of his bs garbage commie bills and laws. Cause if you can push, press and ram then nobody has time to deliberate or find out what exactly the “bill” is about. Presidents shouldn’t get their noses into legislating. I am so glad this bill was ki lled. SO GLAD.

    Report Post »  
  • MoreC02
    Posted on October 11, 2011 at 8:45pm

    Sloppy reporting? There are at least three RINOs that I expected to vote for continuing debate on Barry’s “killing me so softly” bill. Let’s see, How about the twins from Maine? And the Cosmo centerfold guy? And McCain’s boy friend, that makes four! There are probably more. So that statement in this article is straight from the LSM.

    Report Post » MoreC02  
  • Tundra4x4
    Posted on October 11, 2011 at 8:43pm

    Finally, the wheels are fallin off the Ocrap BS wagon.

    Report Post »  
  • Thevoice
    Posted on October 11, 2011 at 8:37pm

    That’s right jerk….off commies ,,,No more ..Money for you …Guess what .If your system is a failure after trillions …Then damit ..it’s time it fails…Now go cry… sleep in tents ..puk and pee all over each other ..Nobody cares ..Hell burn the dam place to the ground …..We don’t care ..We no longer want to fund your corrupt public unions …So to hell with you …and your communist crap..You…. your berry obama and the rest of the commies…….you flew in with …

    Report Post » Thevoice  
  • B4REALITY
    Posted on October 11, 2011 at 8:34pm

    Thank the Lord above this TAX BILL failed!!!! These people need to take their fingers out of the pie! They’ve micro managed this economy so much – they’ve made such a mess! Who in the world would trust them with more money! Dept. of Energy spent 4.75 BILLION on more Solyndra type green nonsense last Thursday!!!! They’re fools, they’re thieves, and they’re criminals!!!!!!!!!

    Report Post » B4REALITY  
    • commonsenseguy
      Posted on October 11, 2011 at 9:02pm

      it did not fail, it is on hold and you can beat that they are bribing the two democrats as we speak, or they will just executive order it, so trust me it is not dead.

      Report Post »  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on October 11, 2011 at 10:20pm

      This Bill (that’s not a Bill yet) should never have been on the floor of the Senate. For that matter, it should never be on the floor of the House either. This Bill raises revenues and under;
      Article. I. Section. 7. Clause 1:
      All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.
      So what gives Obama the power to introduce a Bill that raises revenues?
      http://www.house.gov/house/Constitution/Constitution.html

      Also, this “plan” from Obama wants to over-ride the 11th Amendment;
      On page 133 of President Obama’s “The American Job Act”, Sec.376. states;

      “Abrogation of State Immunity- A State shall not be immune under the 11th Amendment to the
      Constitution from a suit brought in a Federal court of competent jurisdiction for a violation of this Act.

      A State’s receipt or use of Federal financial assistance for any program or activity of a State shall constitute a waiver of sovereign immunity, under the 11th Amendment to the Constitution or otherwise, to a suit brought by an employee or applicant of that program or activity under this Act for a remedy authorized under Section 375(c) of this Act.”
      Read it and weep. Not one Senator mentioned either of these facts. I watched the entire Senate debate today. The reason that the Dems don’t want to pass it is because of page 133. The Repubs know this so they pushed it “as is” knowing that in 2012 they can use this

      Report Post » The-Monk  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on October 11, 2011 at 10:36pm

      Continued;
      ….use this against the Dems in the 2012 elections. Once Dem voters find out about this they just might not show up at the polls to vote for Obama again.

      Report Post » The-Monk  
    • TheVoice1
      Posted on October 12, 2011 at 1:04am

      Monk you nailed it with the facts! That seems to be the big monkey wrench slowing the Democratic wheels from churning out anymore of the “pass it to see whats in it” machine. It’s coming to election time boys and girls. Stay encouraged America.

      Report Post » TheVoice1  
  • Amma K
    Posted on October 11, 2011 at 8:30pm

    MSNBC is stating that the Republicans blocked this bill…….

    Report Post »  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on October 11, 2011 at 9:15pm

      Yeah, it’s not even good spin. The Republicans can’t stop this from passing, alone. Heh.

      Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
  • bernbart
    Posted on October 11, 2011 at 8:29pm

    While the rest of the world advances in infrastructure the United States declines, thanks to republicans.
    1969-Jpan as bullet train
    1984 France has TVG
    2012- Mexico will have a high speed rail

    Report Post »  
    • commonsenseguy
      Posted on October 11, 2011 at 8:52pm

      wow, high speed rail,and they still come pouring over the boarders,so that is the only job the mexican government {cartels}an create, 1969 japan, bullet train and still a communist country that work their people in the ground,with no welfare or unemployment and no retirement and 1984 france, well that should say it all, they are a broke socialist welfare state and they are run by the unions who have and will continue to destroy their own country, and you continue to compare our great free country to those of socialist and communist country and we win every time. as before the democrats have been in charge for 10 years,so really are you that blind or is the george soros money really worth the cost of your freedom. you need to go back to whatever soros funded web site you came from,

      Report Post »  
    • georgiavietvet
      Posted on October 12, 2011 at 12:57am

      bernbart…………………… look up brain dead in the dictionary. your picture will be beside it………………….

      Report Post »  
  • bernbart
    Posted on October 11, 2011 at 8:26pm

    The GOP now stand for the Grand Obstructins Party.

    Obama’s positives number 50, republicans in congress 18

    Report Post »  
    • commonsenseguy
      Posted on October 11, 2011 at 8:42pm

      nad who controls the senate, who has been in charge for 10 years,who has passed so many bills and regulations that business have shut down or left the country. you called us dumb earlier, but who is standing and supporting communist and anarchist, who is supporting unions and not right to work states, who passed a health care bill without reading it, and who is it that is letting drug dealers,rapist,murder’s,gang members and now terrorist through the boarders,and who is forcing taxes and regulations on the american people ,the democrats,so call me dumb,but don’t call me a communist

      Report Post »  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on October 11, 2011 at 8:51pm

      Sorry Bern, the Dems control the Senate. Are you that incapable of self criticism? Interesting how you go right with the spin like this.

      Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on October 11, 2011 at 10:43pm

      @GhostOfJefferson
      You got that right. Please read my other posts on this page to find out more about Obama’s American Jobs Act. Oh, it also isn’t a Bill yet has no # associated with it in either House. It’s just a “plan”.

      Report Post » The-Monk  
  • TRILO
    Posted on October 11, 2011 at 8:21pm

    I’m sure he will try to figure out a way to pass it without congressional approval. Seems to be the way this administration works. At least he can not fully blame it on the Republicans, though I am sure he will try.

    Report Post » TRILO  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on October 11, 2011 at 8:21pm

    So if I understand the gist of the top of the report, the vote is still open and not absolutly final?

    Even though there are enough votes to kill it, the matter is not yet finalized, so pressure will now be put on the Republicans and the two Democrats who voted against it — late night bribery and such from the Progressives to intimidate, blackmail or bribe them into turning it around.

    I hope this massive train wreck of a bill dies completely.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • commonsenseguy
      Posted on October 11, 2011 at 8:35pm

      @snow, i will agree again, there is some serious bribery going on right now,the two democrats are holding out for a piece of the pie, they are not worried about anything or anyone,just themselves, what i don’t get is why blame the republicans when the senate can not even get their own in line. yes the house will vote no to this monstrosity of a freedom and job killer, but it is the democrats { senate } who have the ultimate vote, it is really up to them if they pass the bill we are done as a country and if they don”t we are still going down hill and it is the democrats who will be held accountable for what ever happens, they just can not and will not admit they screwed us, so they will continue to vilify the republicans until 2012,even if they go a long with this bill, i hope the people do not forget the past and will not be swayed in the future.

      Report Post »  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on October 11, 2011 at 10:48pm

      @Snowleopard
      It’s not a Bill yet and has no number associated with it in either House. Please stop referring to it as a Bill. It’s just a proposal from the White House.

      Report Post » The-Monk  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on October 11, 2011 at 8:19pm

    Another slush fund for the dems fails wooo hooo,that’s okay the Marxist will just draft another.

    Report Post » progressiveslayer  
  • The Divided States of America
    Posted on October 11, 2011 at 8:17pm

    “The jobs bill” give me a break… the last 700 bill was a jobs bill too and now look at all the zombies crashing wall street because there are no jobs… this creep yomamma is a loser from the get go..a self righteous smug mobster trying to destroy the dreams of a land built on freedom of choice and ingenuity. The O’blame game is coming to an end very soon !!!

    Ive read the book and ive seen the movie…Jesus wins !!!

    Report Post » The Divided States of America  
  • SHOESHINEBOY
    Posted on October 11, 2011 at 8:04pm

    good news..for now…at least another union funded democrat money laundering scheme is temporarly stoped for now…this “bill” never was intended to “create” real jobs for “tax payers”. It is just designed to push more money to the unions so they can push it back to the “‘democrat election-re-election” machine.

    Report Post »  
    • encinom
      Posted on October 11, 2011 at 8:21pm

      teh GOP just handed the Dems their 2012 commericials. The GOP vote against raise taxes on Millionaries to fund the jobs bill.

      Report Post »  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on October 11, 2011 at 9:17pm

      Er..um..Enicom, dude, you do know that the Dems control the Senate, right? Heh, you can’t even spin this with enough force to have it gain traction, big guy. Face it, you folks blew it! :)

      Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on October 11, 2011 at 10:52pm

      @GhostOfJefferson
      Encinom is a female who also goes by the name Monicne (spelled backwards).

      Report Post » The-Monk  
    • MHP
      Posted on October 12, 2011 at 2:21am

      The-Monk

      encinom is an it.

      it’s probably a male in drag, with a limp dick

      Report Post » MHP  
    • MHP
      Posted on October 12, 2011 at 2:24am

      encinom

      hey limp dick, you’re fulla crap

      That coon is gonna get beast.

      President Herman Cain

      Report Post » MHP  
  • The Third Archon
    Posted on October 11, 2011 at 8:02pm

    “In fact, Democratic defections appeared to threaten that the measure would fail to win a simple majority”
    And people wonder why Leftists have given up on the Democrats and politics in America, and why some turn to espousing violence–there’s no way to change the system from within because it was designed to be difficult to do that, yet everyone desperately agrees we need change, they simply disagree about what that change should be. But of course, the Democrats and Republicans have every incentive to sit on the fence, try to be everyone’s friend, and monopolize their hold on the political organs of this country.

    Report Post » The Third Archon  
    • progressiveslayer
      Posted on October 11, 2011 at 8:24pm

      Yes archon everyone agrees we need change,and we can start by voting out the Marxist in chief and having constitutional conservatives in both houses in the majority.That will be a start in preserving the republic.

      Report Post » progressiveslayer  
    • Chutz
      Posted on October 11, 2011 at 8:24pm

      Why not take that 450 billion dollars and divide it among the taxpayers. Put that money into our hands , not over inflated bureaucracies

      Report Post »  
    • progressiveslayer
      Posted on October 11, 2011 at 8:32pm

      chutz especially since it’s our money to begin with,the government has no money and I’m not talking about now 15 trillion in the hole,I mean from the beginning of the republic.Government cannot create wealth it can only consume it,never ending and increasing taxes.

      Report Post » progressiveslayer  
    • The Third Archon
      Posted on October 11, 2011 at 8:38pm

      @PROGRESSIVESLAYER
      Yes–because voting has worked so well to bring about important political change against the interests of the powerful few in the past. And where do you propose to find these “constitutional conservatives?” The Republican Party? The Democrat Party?

      And how exactly would these people go about preventing a future collusion to steal government for the interests of the powerful? It’s all well and good if THEY want to practice some minimalist government philosophy from the 18th Century, but I don’t think the next Republican-Democrat vanguard that replaces them is going to give a **** about their lofty principles–they are going to act in their political best interests by and large and act to concentrate power, and the disparate public interest be damned.

      Report Post » The Third Archon  
    • commonsenseguy
      Posted on October 11, 2011 at 9:00pm

      @chutz,great idea, but the only problem with that is, it is ti simple it might work,so they will not even consider the idea, and besides,they would have to decide who and how much each group would get,
      have a job, not very much
      lazy free loaders, a whole lot more,it is their right you know
      then they would have to bring in the race card ,then they would have to decide what color got how much and that would take a long time, then they would have to figure out how they { the government } could get their share so a simple idea,just really complicated,when the government is involved .

      Report Post »  
  • TheePolitinator
    Posted on October 11, 2011 at 8:01pm

    700 billion the first time was more than enough.

    Report Post » TheePolitinator  
  • mad_hatter
    Posted on October 11, 2011 at 7:59pm

    WATCH THE GOP DEBATE HERE… http://www.thedailycandidate.com/video/2011/oct/wapo_bloomberg_debate.html

    Report Post »  
    • chazman
      Posted on October 11, 2011 at 8:07pm

      … OBAMMY’S jobs bill fails … Duh! I only care about the impeachment of OBAMMY, that’s ALL I care about.

      Report Post »  
  • GhostOfJefferson
    Posted on October 11, 2011 at 7:57pm

    Buahahahahahahahaha!

    You can quote me on that.

    That is all.

    Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on October 11, 2011 at 7:58pm

      Oh, also, the Republicans couldn’t kill this. They don’t have the votes to kill this. It was the non-agreeing Democrats that killed it. I love the spin in the article though, nice try!

      And I repeat:

      Buahahahahahhahahaha!

      Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
    • SHOESHINEBOY
      Posted on October 11, 2011 at 8:05pm

      note to demo-communists…if this is such a good thing..why couldn’t all of you vote for it .

      Report Post »  
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