Third Time's A Disaster

And for the third time, Republicans killed a Senate jobs bill because deficits are more important than jobs, unemployment benefits, tax breaks for businesses or anything else...except this time when the Democrats offered to actually PAY FOR THE SPENDING with some stimulus money and by letting some tax breaks expire, the Republicans still said no.

Senator Max Baucus, Democrat of Montana and chairman of the Finance Committee, who is the primary sponsor of the legislation, said that the bill had been cut back by about $100 billion in response to Republicans’ demands for a smaller package.

In the latest version, the Democrats pared a provision to extend higher Medicaid reimbursement for the states, to $16 billion from $24 billion, and also found offsets in spending to cover the cost.

The legislation would reinstate numerous expired tax breaks, as well as provided an array of safety net spending. To help cover the cost, Democrats also proposed shifting some unspent money from last year’s economic stimulus program, a move that prompted Republican cheers.

Even some Democrats have expressed deep reservations about adding to the nation’s fast-growing deficit. Senator Ben Nelson, Democrat of Nebraska, and Senator Joseph I. Lieberman, independent of Connecticut who caucuses with the Democrats, have joined with Republicans in opposing the bill.

And House Democrats did not include the extra Medicaid money for states in its version of the legislation out of concern for the cost. Senate Democrats restored the money at the urging of governors and state legislatures.

At a news conference earlier on Thursday, Senate Democratic leaders voiced exasperation at the stalled legislation, and Mr. Reid said that if the latest vote failed he would move on to other legislation, beginning with a bill intended to help small businesses create jobs.

“We’re where we are because Republicans have said ‘no’ to helping America,” Mr. Reid said. 

As I said earlier, what's the impetus for the Republicans not to filibuster everything and then blame the Democrats?  They won't pay a price at the polls, only a third of the Senate is up for re-election every two years.  The Republicans are betting they will gain seats, and if Americans have to lose unemployment benefits and the economy is hurt...oh well!  Obama's fault!  Vote GOP!