From
http://www.foxreno.com/politics/29439613/detail.html">CNN via FoxReno:
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Democratic-controlled Senate is expected to take up President Barack Obama's controversial jobs bill this week, with a key procedural vote on the $447 billion measure currently scheduled for Tuesday evening
Among other things, the package includes an extension and expansion of the current payroll tax cut, an extension of jobless benefits to help the unemployed, new tax credits for businesses that hire the long-term unemployed and additional money to help save and create jobs for teachers and first responders such as firemen.
Republicans are vehemently opposed to a provision recently added by Senate Democrats that would pay for the measure through a 5.6% surtax on annual incomes over $1 million. GOP leaders have accused the president of engaging in so-called "class warfare" for political reasons, and are expected to prevent the bill from reaching the critical 60-vote threshold needed to clear the Senate.
Top Republicans have also said they will prevent a vote from being held on the original version of the measure in the GOP-controlled House of Representatives.
More at the link.
More than ever, expect the same schtick you've seen since last December.
It goes something like this: The President proposes legislation which is then introduced in the House and the Senate. Republicans obstruct. Instead of naming names and shaming the Republicans on a national stage, he works with the Republicans to gut his own already-tepid legislation in order to make sure he can say "See! My bill passed!". If, during that time, Eric Cantor begins holding mock executions in effigy on the Capitol Mall, the President will immediately issue a statement asking "People not to be so partisan...if that's ok with them."
On our side of the field, expect beholden Democrats to actively snip the bill just as aggressively as the Republicans. Classic liberal Democrats will spend time criticizing the unmodified bill for again using tax breaks for corporations to allegedly repair the economy. Inquisition into the original bill will be derailed when the new one which Republicans have worked out with President Obama, and which they can sort of agree with, is rushed to a vote. There will be some frantic attempts by Liberal Democrats to actually fix things before it's too late but the bill will likely pass.
Probably sometime near midnight because everyone's tired and just wants to go home for the evening.About the time the bill passes(assuming it can get that far), someone at one of the protests around out country will be handing out fresh-toasted bagels they bought to provide a little warm during the cold night. Someone will thank them and ask "Do you think we're really making a difference?" and they will reply "I hope so. We just can't keep going on like this, can we?" The obvious question will be answered only with uncomfortable silence.
The next morning, the President holds a brief presser on the south lawn to congratulate everyone on cooperating to get important legislation passed- when the legislation which was passed only vaguely resembles the original bill.
PB
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