Republicans Block Bush Tax Cuts and Unemployment Extensions, what about the Grandkids?

[Joanne98]

Run time: 05:12 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IL5FwO7kO58   Posted on YouTube: December 05, 2010 By YouTube Member: solitaryfracturetv Views on YouTube: 184   Posted on DU: December 05, 2010 By DU Member: Joanne98 Views on DU: 481

 
Two Senate bills that would have extended the Bush-era tax cuts for all but the wealthiest earners were blocked by the GOP on the Senate floor in a rare Saturday morning session.

The first measure, which was proposed by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and would have extended the Bush-era tax cuts for income of $250,000 or less for families and $200,000 for individuals, failed by a 53 to 36 vote. Four Democrats -- Sens. Russ Feingold (Wis.), Joe Manchin (W.Va.), Ben Nelson (Neb.) and Jim Webb (Va.) -- as well as Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) joined Republicans in opposing the bill.

The second measure, which was sponsored by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and would have extended the cuts for income under $1 million for families, failed by a 53 to 37 vote. Feingold and Lieberman opposed the measure, as did Democratic Sens. Dick Durbin (Ill.), Tom Harkin (Iowa) and Jay Rockefeller (W.Va.).

Ten Republican senators were not present for the votes; Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio) did not vote on the first measure but voted against the second.

Neither bill was expected to pass the 60-vote threshold necessary to avoid a GOP filibuster. Democrats held the votes with the goal of signaling that they're serious about fighting for the middle class and tackling the deficit. But despite ratcheting up the pressure on the GOP in recent days, they were unable to persuade any Republicans to break with their party.

The bills were brought up for consideration by Democrats following the House's passage earlier this week of a measure that would extend the cuts for the middle class.

The votes came amid the White House's continuing negotiations with bipartisan, bicameral congressional leaders aimed at reaching an agreement on the tax cuts, with a compromise taking shape that would extend all of the cuts for at least two years.

Addressing reporters Saturday in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, President Obama took aim at Republicans for blocking the measures, charging that "it makes no sense to hold tax cuts for the middle class hostage."

But he vowed to continue working with congressional leaders toward a resolution on the tax issue before the current rates expire as scheduled at the end of the year.

"We need to get this resolved, and I'm confident we can do it," Obama said.

[The Wielding Truth]

1. "pay the rich so we can feed the poor" Christian Nation, huh. Not even a civil nation.

[livingonearth]

2. The great right-wing lie...

tax cuts for the rich create more jobs. If they mean more jobs for underpaid Chinese workers I guess they're right.