Will Senators do the right thing on jobs, or will they shaft thousands of their own constituents?

[ProSense]

Will Senators do the right thing on jobs, or will they shaft thousands of their own constituents?

By Greg Sargent

Let’s be as clear as possible: Any Democratic or Republican senators who vote this week against the $35 billion package of aid to the states are putting the very narrow interests of an infinitessimal few over the interests of many thousands of their own constituents.

<...>

The Senate vote is on whether to send billions to the states to avert teacher layoffs and to facilitate the hiring of more teachers and first resonders — a key provision of Obama’s jobs plan. This would be paid for by a 0.5 percent surtax on millionaires. As of now, it’s unclear how a handful of moderate Senators in both parties will vote, because they have “stimulus spending” and they oppose hiking taxes on the rich.

So here’s a way look at this: How many people would be impacted by this proposal in each state represented by each on-the-fence senator? And how does that compare to the number of constituents in each of those states who would pay that 0.5 percent surtax? And keep in mind, the impact of one teaching job is far vaster and affects far more people than the impact of the surtax on one constituent, which is only paid on income over one million dollars.

<...>

* Maine, home to senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins: The aid proposal would provide over $117 million to the state, with the goal of supporting up to 1,800 education jobs — impacting untold thousands more people, the economy, and the state’s future. The 0.5 percent millionaire surtax would impact 0.1 percent of Maine taxpayers, or roughly 375 people.

more

[DJ13]

1. The Senators dont believe mere voters are anything but baggage

They think the only constituents that matter are those with the money to fund their campaign.

[AtomicKitten]

2. A handful of Democrats seem convinced (despite evidence to the contrary) that

raising taxes is a bad idea. The polling couldn't be clearer, so I'm guessing they are also a wholly owned subsidiary of the 1%. Nelson, Lieberman, and Tester are douchebags.

We all know who the Republicans work for, so no help there either.