Republican Obstruction Has A Very Real Price, Part 2

Sen. Mitch McConnell went on a rant today in the GOP weekly address accusing Democrats of refusing to take action on the Bush tax cuts.

But the real outrage needs to be directed right at McConnell and the Republicans in Congress for killing a quarter of a million jobs this week.

They left town for their pre-election recess having blocked the extension of a successful jobs program -- praised by conservatives from Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour to economist Kevin Hassett of the American Enterprise Institute -- that provided 250,000 jobs for low-income parents and youths.

A $2.5 billion version of the extension passed the House, twice. The Senate whittled it back to $1.5 billion but still could not dislodge Republican opposition -- even though the cost would have been fully paid for.

The program was a sliver of the giant stimulus measure, but one of the most effective in terms of job creation. And it sounded as if it came straight out of the GOP playbook. The money was used overwhelmingly for private-sector jobs. It went to employers, to subsidize -- depending on the state -- all or part of wages for newly hired workers who would otherwise have been on unemployment rolls or receiving welfare. It was a particular boon to small business, helping them expand at a time when they would not have otherwise had the financial leeway to do so. 

To repeat, Republicans have blocked funding, and now 250,000 Americans are going to lose their jobs.  The Republicans killed a quarter million jobs just to make election gains.  They are heartless bastards.


So when Republicans say "Where are the jobs?", you tell them "You blocked them, you asshole."  They only care about power.  And they will sacrifice as many Americans as it takes to gain it.


Repugnant.