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Jobs Bill Passes Major Hurdle After 5 GOPers Join Dems
Sens. Harry Reid and Dick Durbin
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Five Republicans joined Democrats in a key cloture vote moments ago, allowing debate on a jobs package to move forward. After overcoming this hurdle, debate on the bill can begin.
Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) broke with his party and voted with the Democrats. So did Sens. Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Susan Collins (R-ME), Kit Bond (R-MO) and George Voinovich (R-OH).
Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) was the only Democrat to break with his party.
The final vote tally was 62-30.
It had been uncertain earlier in the day whether any Republicans would help Democrats reach 60 votes and overcome the threat of a GOP filibuster. With Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) out of the Senate after being diagnosed with stomach cancer, Democrats needed at least two Republican votes to overcome a GOP filibuster threat.
"Work with us on this," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said moments before the vote. "Show us you're serious about legislating."
Reid also warned Republicans: Fail to support this bill, and the minority would "confirm their reputation as the 'Party of No.'"
And after the vote? "I hope this is the beginning of a new day here in the Senate," Reid said.
The bill, which is much smaller than some original proposals, would exempt businesses from paying Social Security payroll taxes this year after hiring from the nation's pool of millions of unemployed. The Build-America Bonds Act of 2009 would be renewed by the jobs bill. The scaled-down bill would also extend some tax breaks for small businesses, renew highway programs through December, and put $20 billion in the highway trust fund.
Brown issued the following statement about his vote:
I came to Washington to be an independent voice, to put politics aside, and to do everything in my power to help create jobs for Massachusetts families. This Senate jobs bill is not perfect. I wish the tax cuts were deeper and broader, but I voted for it because it contains measures that will help put people back to work.I was disappointed with the continuation of politics-as-usual in the drafting of this bill, as it was crafted behind closed doors, without transparency and accountability. I hope for improvements in that process going forward. All of us, Republicans and Democrats, have to work together to get our economy back on track. I hope my vote today is a strong step toward restoring bipartisanship in Washington.
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Overreach THIS!
February 22, 2010 5:52 PM
I suspect the R. party gave permission to both Brown and Collins to thus vote. (If three votes were needed, they would have produced three.) Gives them a way not to be party of no and helps both Senators' reelection chances.
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mans_best_friend
February 22, 2010 6:05 PM in reply to Overreach THIS!
Snowe doesn't really need any help, nor does Voinovich (for different reasons), but otherwise I agree with your assessment. The R's do not want to hand their opponents a ready-made campaign commercial for November.
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superking
February 22, 2010 7:06 PM in reply to Overreach THIS!
Lucy is getting ready to set the 'Bipartisan' football down just in time for the next Health Care Reform push.
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Overreach THIS!
February 22, 2010 8:29 PM in reply to superking
As I say in my blog today, Obama had better be double-ready for that crap, because you're right, it's definitely coming.
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ariseatex
February 22, 2010 5:58 PM
Snowe and Voinovich also voted yes.
Ben Nelson voted no. *headdesk*
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The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve
February 22, 2010 6:22 PM in reply to ariseatex
Of course they did. They're better Democrats than Nelson is.
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elle a
February 22, 2010 7:49 PM in reply to The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve
ben nelson needs to get primaried. the guy is no help whatsoever.
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benintn
February 22, 2010 5:59 PM
Voinovich and Snowe also voted yes.
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runfastandwin
February 22, 2010 6:05 PM
It may be better than nothing but barely.
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lousgirl84
February 22, 2010 6:10 PM in reply to runfastandwin
Of course we know its all sour grapes to you.
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jim43
February 22, 2010 6:06 PM
The GOP can't afford to abandon their newest star, can they?
http://www.political-buzz.com/
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mcc
February 22, 2010 6:08 PM
This is likely to become a pattern. Let's see how much the tea partiers like Scott Brown by the time 2012 comes.
Reid claimed this was just the first of several jobs bills that will be passed over the coming months (one assumes eventually approximating the single jobs bill the House passed at the end of last year). Any idea what the plan is for the next step after this?
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holyhandgrenaid
February 22, 2010 6:18 PM in reply to mcc
I reckon they'll come to hate him nearly as much as their sort did Linc Chaffee
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Rich in NJ
February 22, 2010 6:09 PM
Scott Brown is walking that tight rope.
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AJM
February 22, 2010 6:11 PM
Good.
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pv2k
February 22, 2010 6:16 PM
I see Olympia (Lucy) Snowe is holding that football again.
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JohnDoe
February 22, 2010 6:21 PM
Brown will have to be rather liberal to maintain his seat in the Senate.
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Nutter
February 22, 2010 6:28 PM in reply to JohnDoe
I think most people here would be pleased if he repeated what he did for healtcare back home....which teabaggers know absolutely nothing about for some reason. Can someone say tool?
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lousgirl84
February 22, 2010 7:06 PM in reply to JohnDoe
Then there hope for the guy yet.
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KdNicewanger
February 22, 2010 8:11 PM in reply to lousgirl84
Maybe in some areas. But in a debate here, a question came up about national security and he said, "We're at war in our shopping malls." Maybe he was just being a little overanxious. But his track record since then -- offering up his daughters for dates, claiming the IRS terrorist was perhaps inspired by his campaign -- doesn't give much hope.
Come to think of it, you might be right. This guy might turn out to be really good for Democrats.
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NobleCommentDecider
February 22, 2010 6:30 PM
ITS AN OUTRAGE, WHO DOES BROWN THINK HE IS, A MAVERICK??
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Kevin Sutton
February 22, 2010 6:31 PM
Potential political heat is the only way to get recalcitrant senators to budge; and when utilized it can work where consultations don't.
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km
February 22, 2010 6:34 PM
Ben Nelson: Go fuck yourself.
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philogratis
February 22, 2010 6:46 PM
I wouldn't be so sure that Snowe and others are totally confident of their re-elections. Republicans don't poll that well either. A fresh Rasmussen poll shows Chuck Grassley at 53%... not that encouraging for a long time incumbent.
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bdtex
February 22, 2010 6:48 PM
Ben Nelson voted against it? WTF? I really don't care whether he's re-elected next time around or not.
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mcc
February 22, 2010 6:54 PM in reply to bdtex
There's this "but at least they're better than a Republican, right?" question that gets asked.
It's a good question.
But maybe sometimes the answer really is "no".
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mans_best_friend
February 23, 2010 12:08 AM in reply to mcc
He's still better than a Republican. Here's why: The majority party gets to chair all the committees which allows them to control the agenda. The Majority Leader controls which bills come to the floor and which don't. Unfortunately, this is the Gang that can't shoot straight, and they can't seem to stop dickering among themselves long enough to pass jack shit. But that's not totally Nelson's fault.
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kgb999
February 23, 2010 1:11 AM in reply to mans_best_friend
But Nelson has seniority on many of those committees - meaning he has far more power than a republican who might take his place and start at the back end of the Senate pecking order. The dems *are* 9 up. Just sayin.
Besides, maybe someone better could primary him and actually win the election, who knows.
And also, if he's the one voting "NO" all the time, if it isn't *all* his fault, he sure as hell isn't helping.
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GTFOOH
February 22, 2010 7:19 PM
Wonder if there has ever been a politician who stabbed his own party in the back, more than Ben Nelson.
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JimmyBobby
February 22, 2010 7:33 PM in reply to GTFOOH
Well, there was Lieberman. They're both self-serving dungheads.
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Barry Ragin
February 22, 2010 7:36 PM in reply to GTFOOH
Yes. His name was Zell Miller.
I don't care if the bill is a great one or not. Knocking Republicans back a peg or two is the top priority right now.
I am utterly speechless that they couldn't maintain party discipline on this.
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Overreach THIS!
February 22, 2010 8:15 PM in reply to Barry Ragin
Bingo on Miller.
But I think they planned this. Gives them a happy face. Hope I'm wrong and it is as you say -- "couldn't maintain".
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slb
February 23, 2010 1:51 AM in reply to Barry Ragin
And on the state level: Doug Wilder.
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cjop
February 22, 2010 9:20 PM in reply to GTFOOH
Hell Miller (Douchbag-GA)
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lyleleander
February 22, 2010 9:51 PM in reply to GTFOOH
At least Lieberman doesn't put a D next to his name-- despite the fact that he had no choice in that matter.
Fuck you, Ben!
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decisivemoment
February 22, 2010 7:23 PM
OK, so when they go to conference and start to fix it up a bit, then what do the Republicans do? I'm curious about that one, I really am. There was a ton of good stuff in the House bill, especially on transit, railroads and energy, and as of now it's not in the Senate bill.
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Dorn76
February 22, 2010 7:30 PM
Once the Party of "NO" starts saying "YES", they won't be able to stop.
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mcc
February 22, 2010 11:06 PM in reply to Dorn76
It's a slippery slope. Today minor tax breaks for small businesses, tomorrow SOCIALIZED MEDICINE.
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Boidster
February 22, 2010 7:33 PM
On behalf of all my fellow Nebraska progressives, I again apologize for Ben Nelson. We'll try to do better in the future, if possible. <sigh>
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pvel
February 22, 2010 8:03 PM
What the hell is wrong with Ben Nelson?
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docrocktex
February 22, 2010 8:07 PM in reply to pvel
Co-sign
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lyleleander
February 22, 2010 9:55 PM in reply to pvel
It's a simple case of his toupee's support band is restricting blood flow to his brain. Seen it all the time... these things don't usually end well.
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slb
February 23, 2010 2:05 AM in reply to lyleleander
LOL!!!
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glblank
February 22, 2010 8:28 PM
This was a meaningless gesture vote on cloture when the cross-overs could pull a Snowe when the actual vote comes to the floor. iI's a "see we can cooperate" vote. Nelson has become a Joe "its all about me" Loserman clone.
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slb
February 23, 2010 2:10 AM in reply to glblank
It wasn't completely meaningless if it allowed a vote on the actual bill.
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GTFOOH
February 22, 2010 8:35 PM
Wonder if there has ever been a politician who stabbed his own party in the back, more than Ben Nelson.
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GTFOOH
February 22, 2010 8:36 PM
Wonder if there has ever been a politician who stabbed his own party in the back, more than Ben Nelson.
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Oeno
February 22, 2010 8:42 PM
From what I've read this is the first step and many of the tax breaks that were left out can (and more than likely will be)included further on in the legislative session, as they will fall under the current fiscal year. Anyone happen to be familiar with the Build America Bonds Act of 2009 though? Thanks.
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mpearl
February 22, 2010 9:42 PM in reply to Oeno
States, municipalities, local governments, public universities, etc. can issue bonds. Normally they issue bonds at very low interest rates, and people will invest in them because the interest is tax free. These bonds do not have the benefit of being tax free, but instead the issuer gets a subsidy from the US treasury. The idea is that the treasury is more-or-less revenue neutral between giving up the taxes, or paying the subsidy.
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bluebell
February 22, 2010 9:12 PM
Chickenfeed.
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cjop
February 22, 2010 9:16 PM
Perhaps it is time to dump any committee assignments Ben Nelson has. It is clear he is only worried about re-election. The threat of losing his committee assignments could turn him around. After all, if he is even less valuable to Nebraskans maybe an primary challenger could knock him out.
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Charlie Potts
February 22, 2010 9:18 PM
Perhaps Scott Brown will be the Republican's Ben Nelson.
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agio
February 22, 2010 9:57 PM in reply to Charlie Potts
Very astute observation.
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acf_ma
February 22, 2010 10:32 PM in reply to Charlie Potts
I wouldn't hold my breath. I see this as more of a way for them to use Brown's claim as an "independent Republican", and help him develop a record as one, then when an important vote comes up he'll still be a dependable conservative. It would be interesting to know which vote it was, a Republican that helped pass the bill, or one who voted for it only to build some independent "cred"? Was it a principled vote or an opportunistic one?
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jmnyc
February 22, 2010 9:35 PM
This is exactly why you need to force the Rs to vote or talk when they threaten filibusters. It is not easy to hold everyone in line especially when the issue is popular.
The Ds should do the same thing on Financial Services reform - call the Rs bluff if they threaten to filibuster.
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lyleleander
February 22, 2010 9:53 PM
We all know why Nelson didn't vote for the bill-- Obama didn't personally assure him that every Nebraskan will be assured a job.
Better get back to shaking him down for Medicare/Medicaid coverage JUST for people in Nebraska, Ben... you're time is better served on that.
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lyleleander
February 22, 2010 9:57 PM
Does this mean the Teabaggers are offically restricted from mentioning Brown's election as a prime example of the Conservative tide in this country mounting? Let me guess, it probably doesn't.
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SpiderPig
February 22, 2010 10:44 PM
OK, so one hair of the jackass coat my "wonderful" Sen. Bond usually wears just fell off. Overall, though, a pretty gutless vote since he's retiring and no retribution can really be taken against him by his leadership. Way to sort of attempt to stand up there, Christopher. You make us all "proud".
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Marinus van der Lubbe
February 22, 2010 11:13 PM in reply to SpiderPig
How did they get Bond off the shitter for this vote?
Dont feel bad, my two Sen.'s Webb & Warner are MIA for all the HCR fuckstory.
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Riesz Fischer
February 22, 2010 11:38 PM in reply to Marinus van der Lubbe
Is that like "history". As in, "the worst Democratic president in U.S. fuckstory?
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Marinus van der Lubbe
February 23, 2010 8:07 AM in reply to Riesz Fischer
You make as much sense as your avatar: none. When youre lucid and the meds are working, get back to me.
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kJCUWzUl
February 22, 2010 11:15 PM
it's comical that the headline is "Jobs Bill Passes Major Hurdle After 5 GOPers Join Dems"
how about one like "Senate passes a major hurdle and shows up for work after vacation"
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tommyo
February 22, 2010 11:41 PM
My god, unemployment is at almost 10% and the Democrats are crowing about a bill that is nothing but fucking tax cuts?!
THEY ARE CELEBRATING A BILL OF FUCKING PAYROLL TAX CUTS TO ADDRESS 10% UNEMPLOYMENT!!?? UN-FUCKING-BELIEVABLE!
This insult to the unemployed is a pathetic $15 billion dollar jobs bill of which $13 billion is a payroll tax exemption and the rest is for a $1000 tax credit for employers who keep new hires on for 52 weeks. Hooray! This will really help! So now the unemployed and their families can rest easy knowing this bill of GOP style tax cuts from the useless, spineless, oblivious Senate Democrats is on the way! But hey, it's bipartisan!
Tax cuts! Fucking tax cuts! What the fuck is going on???
Reid and the Senate Democrats are hopeless. Totally fucking useless.
The Republicans must be sore from laughing and the unemployed and their families will be sore from weeping.
Fuck Reid and the fuck rest of the useless, piece of shit bastards who make up the Senate Democrats.
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Knapper
February 23, 2010 12:29 AM
Its good to see that our elected representives can put their personal feelings aside for a change and vote for some thing that might very well be posiive for America. This bill isn't perfect but it is a starting point, and it could lead to other bills being considered.
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Steve LaBonne
February 23, 2010 8:45 AM in reply to Knapper
Well, they voted for something, all right. Whether it's positive for America is less clear. tommyo has it pretty much correct about the actual value of this thing. Unless a lot of the House provisions can successfully be merged into it, it's not good for much.
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Tosh
June 6, 2010 7:00 AM
But Nelson has seniority on many of those committees - meaning he has far more power than a republican who might take his place and start at the back end of the Senate pecking order. The dems *are* 9 up. Just sayin.
Besides, maybe someone better could primary him and actually win the election, who knows.
And also, if he's the one voting "NO" all the time, if it isn't *all* his fault, he sure as hell isn't helping.
m65 kamagra
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