UPDATE 1-Senate Democrats push jobs tax compromise

[OhioChick]

Source: Reuters

Wed Jun 23, 2010 9:49pm EDT

WASHINGTON, June 23 (Reuters) - In an effort to break a stalemate over a package of unemployment aid and business tax breaks, Senate Democrats on Wednesday offered a compromise that would pare proposed aid to cash-strapped states .

Democrats had hope the changes to the legislation, which also would increase taxes on investment fund managers, would attract some Republicans support, but Senate aides said that appears doubtful. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is pushing for a vote on the legislation by the end of the week.

Democratic leaders have been struggling all week to come up with a compromise that could win the support of their caucus as well as at least one Republican to get the 60 votes needed to advance the bill in the 100-member Senate.

"To build consensus, we've made multiple changes to focus the bill and this amendment further cuts spending," Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus said in a statement. "This amendment works to bring relief to American families and revitalize our economy."

But concerns over the bill's impact on the $1.4 trillion deficit continues to worry a number of lawmakers.


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2325361620100624

[Hulk]

1. Where were these worriers when we gave the tax breaks to the rich?....or started the Iraq war??

This is insane. So, NOW they are the party of fiscal conservativeness....absolute BULL SHIT!

[prolesunited]

2. Hundreds of thousands are losing their benefits each week

It's been nearly a month since they went on break without passing the bill.

What the hell do they think is going to happen when MILLIONS lose their only lifeline? Even if people dug ditches, there has been barely any job growth in months. There are NO JOBS for people to take, even at minimum wage.

So, then people lose their homes, end up on welfare if they have kids, qualify for food stamps. It's not like the millions who have been devastated by this economy are going to simply disappear.

[roxiejules]

3. Email your Senators!

Better yet, email a Republican Senator - tell them to help the long term unemployed!

Here is the Senate contact list:

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm


Thank you!

[Arkana]

4. At this point I wouldn't fault the Dems for cutting things out of the bill.

People are getting fucking shanked by the lack of unemployment benefits and this needs to be passed. Like yesterday.

[Frances]

5. Does anyone else remember when Greenspan

told Congress it was safe for Bush to give tax cuts to his multi-millionaire friends? We all know how that worked out. Now these same Repubs say we can't afford to spend money to avoid a Great Depression