At least you'll be happy to know that the Democratic Bill had more support than the GOP Bill.
Senate Blocks Democratic, Republican Stimulus Bills
The Senate today killed rival Republican and Democratic proposals to bolster the sagging economy but approved a 13-week extension of unemployment benefits to ease suffering from the recession.
The additional jobless benefits, which would go to laid-off workers who have exhausted their existing 26 weeks of benefits, were approved by unanimous consent after the Senate deadlocked on the larger economic package. The benefits bill now goes to the House for final action.
Both the stimulus bills were rejected on back-to-back procedural votes requiring a 60-vote majority for passage, returning the Senate to the same partisan standoff that blocked passage of either party's bills last year.
Even before the vote, President Bush was lamenting the fact that stimulus legislation appeared dead. "Our economy, while there's some good news, needs more stimulus," the president said after returning from Pittsburgh on Tuesday. Today presidential spokesman Ari Fleischer urged approval of extended unemployment benefits, saying it was "the least they should do."
On a roll call of 56 to 39, the Senate rejected a scaled-back proposal that Majority Leader Thomas A. Daschle (D-S.D.) offered as a "common ground" compromise. Most Republicans decried the Daschle proposal as too little, too late and too tilted toward Democratic priorities.
Seven Republicans, mostly moderates, joined all but one Democrat in voting to proceed with the bill, which included an extension of unemployment benefits, a tax rebate for low-income workers, tax breaks to encourage businesses investment and financial help to states. The only Democratic dissenter was the party's senior member, Sen. Robert C. Byrd (W.Va.). Daschle said Tuesday he would withdraw the bill if he lost and move instead to pass legislation to extend jobless benefits, which Congress normally passes during recessions.
In the second vote, the Senate rejected, 48 to 47, a bigger GOP-drafted stimulus measure approved last year by the House, which includes tax breaks for businesses and individuals as well as assistance for the unemployed, including jobless benefit extension. Five Democrats joined all but two Republicans in voting to proceed with that legislation.
In speeches and news conferences before the vote, Democrats and Republicans blamed each other for the bills' demise in a preview of what is likely to become a central feature of this fall's House and Senate campaigns, at least so long as the recession's effects linger.
Daschle, who had been called an "obstructionist" by Republicans for opposing their bill, said there will be "no more excuses" for GOP senators after they block his compromise proposal, which included elements common to both parties' bills. "I could call the Republicans obstructionists, but I wouldn't do that," he said, grinning broadly. "It wouldn't be fair."
"I hate to see us give up now," said Assistant Minority Leader Don Nickles (R-Okla.). "The economy needs a shot in the arm and the Daschle proposal doesn't do it."
washingtonpost.com |
