The Senate just voted to kill the jobs bill. The vote is being held open for Sen. Jeanne Shaheen to return from Boston, where she received an award for economic leadership, but enough senators have voted against it to kill it, even though the vote count is not final yet. Two Democratic senators defected.
This was the bill revised by Sen. Harry Reid from the package President Obama sent over a few weeks ago. Nelson and Tester have not provided their reasons for opposing the bill. Republican opposition was unanimous. They could change their votes between now and the gavel, but it seems unlikely.
Now leadership and the White House are expected to split the bill in component parts and try to pass individual provisions. But remember this, from Obama/Biden campaign adviser Jim Messina:
"Their strategy is to suffocate the economy for the sake of what they think will be a political victory. They think that the more folks see Washington taking no action to create jobs, the better their chances in the next election. So they’re doing everything in their power to make sure nothing gets done."
Don't expect the Republicans to allow anything to pass.
4:24 PM PT: Tester's office e-mails this statement:
“The things I support in this bill are outweighed by the things I can’t support. We shouldn’t be sending billions of dollars in bailout aid to states. And I can’t support tax gimmicks that do little to create jobs and fail to address a much bigger underlying problem: The need for a big, broad and bipartisan plan to cut the deficit and to make sure we can pay our bills and rebuild our economy.
“Moving forward, we need to focus on investing in the things that create jobs in this country: Our critical infrastructure, education, and research and development. We need significant but responsible cuts to government spending. We need a wholesale reform of our tax code to make sure that millionaires and corporations pay their fair share, and to make taxes more fair for working families. And we need to ensure that critical initiatives like Social Security and Medicare are built to last, so they can benefit our kids and grandkids.
“This measure does none of those things. It is an expensive, temporary fix to a problem that needs a big, long-term solution. And I look forward to working together, putting politics aside, to find a solution that’s right for Montana and the nation.”
Perhaps Montana didn't need that state aid he is opposed to, but there are at least 47 other states out there bleeding, who could have really used it. That would have been right for the nation.