"STATE-AID JOBS BILL ON ITS WAY TO THE OVAL OFFICE.... "

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"President Obama, who'd been lobbying for the legislation, will reportedly sign the measure into law tonight. What's more, the White House blog has an item touting the significance of the bill.

All told, as many as 900,000 public and private sector jobs could have been lost if this bill weren't passed -- the last thing our economy needs. Keeping these Americans at work, whether they are teachers in the classroom or police keeping our streets safe, will also help ensure that the economic recovery keeps moving forward. With the House and Senate both having passed this legislation now, the President will sign it quickly.


Update: In a statement, DNC Chairman Tim Kaine raises a noteworthy point: "There could not be a better example of the differences in priorities between Republicans and Democrats than this legislation. While Democrats are working to help preserve the jobs of hundreds of thousands of teachers, firefighters, police officers and others, Republicans continue to obstruct legislation while supporting tax cuts that would only benefit Wall Street CEOs and other wealthy Americans. Even after Democrats made every effort to reach out to GOP lawmakers, Republicans fought tooth-and-nail against this critical legislation -- refusing to help those who continue to struggle because of the failed Republican economic policies of the past. This stark difference in priorities could not be more clear to the American people, who now have yet another reminder of which party is on their side."

Second Update: Here's the roll call http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2010/roll518.xml . Only two Republicans voted for the jobs bill, while 158 opposed it. Among Dems, 245 supported the measure, while three Blue Dogs voted against it".


—Steve Benen 3:55 PM Permalink | Trackbacks | Comments (6)
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_08/025141.php#1811186