Wednesday, February 06, 2008

GOP Senators Block Dems’ Spending Spree

LOOK MA!  Them thare folks gots a spine. 

The fate of $600-$1,200 rebate checks for more than 100 million Americans is in limbo after Senate Democrats failed Wednesday to add $44 billion in help for the elderly, disabled veterans, the unemployed and big business to the House-passed economic aid package.

Republicans banded together to block the $205 billion plan from advancing Wednesday, leaving Democrats with a difficult choice either to quickly accept a House bill they have said is inadequate or risk being blamed for delaying a measure designed as a swift shot in the arm for the lagging economy.

The tally was 58-41 to end debate on the Senate measure, just short of the 60 votes Democrats would have needed to scale procedural hurdles and move the bill to a final vote. In a suspenseful showdown vote that capped days of partisan infighting and procedural jockeying, eight Republicans — four of them up for re-election this year — joined Democrats to back the plan, bucking GOP leaders and President Bush, who objected to the costly add-ons.

Of course, if they possess the entire spine, they’ll vote against the House version of the bill too.

(9) Comments
Posted by Owen at 1938 hrs
Politics + Politics - General

  1. The tally was 58-41 to end debate on the Senate measure, just short of the 60 votes Democrats would have needed to scale procedural hurdles and move the bill to a final vote.

    looks like that gang of 14 compromise came in handy now that the GOP is in the minority.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 06, 2008 at 1955 hrs


  2. Ah, yes: the GOP, the model of fiscal restraint. I suspect that the economic stimulus was blocked because it was directing money to the elderly, the disabled veterans, and the unemployed—-exactly those who would spend the money and thus serve the purpose of stimulating the economy. But the GOP definitely draws the line there—-tax cuts for the wealthy, subsidies for large oil companies already making record profits, and so on: that’s great. But actually using an economic stimulus effort to direct funds to those who need it: not if the GOP has anything to say about it.

    Posted by Leisureguy on February 06, 2008 at 2019 hrs


  3. looks like that gang of 14 compromise came in handy now that the GOP is in the minority.

    This has nothing to do with the Gang, who aren’t really players anymore with the Dems firmly in control of the Senate.  That compromise was for judicial nominations, not legislation, and it was only effective for the 109th Congress.

    Posted by Tony Turner on February 06, 2008 at 2133 hrs


  4. This has nothing to do with the Gang, who aren’t really players anymore with the Dems firmly in control of the Senate.  That compromise was for judicial nominations, not legislation, and it was only effective for the 109th Congress.

    well if it weren’t for the gang of 14 the gop leadership would have used the nuclear option and thus bringing an end to 3/5 majority on cloture motions.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 06, 2008 at 2153 hrs


  5. Dude, what’s with you and the Gang of 14?  Again, it has nothing to do with this post.  The nuclear, or constitutional, option was for judicial nominations, not legislation.

    Posted by Tony Turner on February 06, 2008 at 2249 hrs


  6. what i’m saying is if the nuclear/constitutional option would have been used the precident would have been set and it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possiblity that the dem majority would have used it for things other then judical nominations.

    basically i’m just pointing out that filibusters are now benefiting the gop after many republican senators were slamming them not so long ago.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 06, 2008 at 2258 hrs


  7. Golly, maybe you got the headline wrong.
    Those perfectly honest news people over at Yahoo, who I trust always, said the Republians blocked our needed stimulus package.
    Gee whiz, who am I to believe now?  I surely must be better off getting all my news through a liberal filter claiming to be unbiased.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 07, 2008 at 0459 hrs


  8. Too bad McCain felt he could avoid going on record on another major issue by missing yet another roll call vote.

    Posted by Brad V. on February 07, 2008 at 1201 hrs


  9. The weird thing is that McCain was actually in DC and made “an eleventh hour decision” not to vote. The guess is that when time comes for the general election, he doesn’t want to be on record as voting to block the economic stimulus package. Prudence? Cowardice? Your call. The problem is that we now don’t know his actual position with respect to the bill—-except to back off and stay away.

    Posted by Leisureguy on February 07, 2008 at 1208 hrs


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