The GOP holds the Senate hostage, certainly not for the benefit of out-of-work Americans.
No they have other "interests" they are stubbornly protecting -- no matter how much their inactions may end up hurting the American Economy:
GOP blocks jobs bill in Senate
upi.com -- Nov. 3, 2011
The Senate voted 51-49 in favor of a procedural motion on the bill, which would spend $60 billion on transportation and infrastructure. However, 60 votes were required to break a GOP filibuster on the bill.
It was the third time in recent weeks Republicans were able to block measures that had been components of the American Jobs Act, initially proposed by the administration as a comprehensive, $447 billion package intended to boost hiring and give money to states to hire teachers and public safety workers.
[...]
"The American people deserve to know why their Republican representatives in Washington refuse to put some of the workers hit hardest by the economic downturn back on the job rebuilding America," Obama said [...]
Many Republicans said they favored transportation and infrastructure projects but objected to a provision that would fund the projects with a new tax on income over $1 million, The Hill.com reported.
Well the GOP has taken a stand for millionaires, against the real world interests of average Americans.
Because the GOP really couldn't give a rip about us -- you know us non-millionaires.
Funny how things can suddenly change, when the GOP senses the heat -- and actually decides to let the hostages, out for some "fresh air."
When they open the gate on their stone-wall, and actually let the American People's Business, come to an actual vote on the floor of the Senate ...
On such rare occasions, who's interests each political side is trying to protect, even becomes that much more clear ... the wealthy or the workers?
Obama chides GOP on tax vote
upi.com -- July 25, 2012
The U.S. Senate Wednesday voted down a GOP bill to extend all Bush-era tax cuts and passed a Democratic version extending rates for all income up to $250,000.
[...]
"It's time for House Republicans to drop their demand for another $1 trillion giveaway to the wealthiest Americans, and give our families and small businesses the financial security and certainty that they need. Our economy isn't built from the top-down, it's built from a strong and growing middle class, and that's who we should be fighting for." [Obama said.]
The Senate's 51-48 vote in favor of the Democrats' bill followed a 54-45 vote against the Republican measure, The New York Times reported. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, was the only Republican to break ranks on the first vote, The Hill reported.
[...]
It is long past time for our non-quitive national media,
to quit letting the republicans have a pass with their embargo-like filibuster-agenda,
and start asking a question or two about exactly:
-- Why they are blocking the American Jobs Act?
With follow-ups:
-- Does the GOP actually want American infrastructure to fall apart?
-- Does the GOP actually want American people to be out of work?
Foreign Investors are flocking to America to buy our T-Bills -- even paying us for the privilege of lending money to us.
It is the height of Financial Mismanagement for the GOP stonewallers in Congress,
NOT to take advantage of the "cheaper than dirt" money and finally PUT the American People back to work.
And for the national media NOT to ask such Questions, is the height of Journalistic Misconduct, and abuses the very responsibilities of a Free Press, designed to protect a free democracy ...
When they just decide to let the Republicans continue to have their American-Jobs-blocking way -- unquestioned, unchallenged ... unnoticed.
Sooner or later, the American People are going to notice that the GOP Filibusters were never intended to help average Americans, out-of-work or otherwise ... but rather help those "interests" of the wealthy few -- those WHO really don't need anymore help.