This story didn't get nearly enough attention last week, probably because Republican obstruction in the Senate is such old news. But, just before they left Washington for the pre-election recess, Senate Republicans killed a quarter of a million jobs. Steve Benen:
At issue is the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Emergency Fund, which should have been one of the most popular programs in Congress. A key component of the Recovery Act, the fund subsidizes jobs with private companies, nonprofits, and government agencies, and has single handedly put more than 240,000 unemployed people back to work in 32 states and the District of Columbia....
Except, Republicans didn't love it. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) led the floor fight this week, and was even willing to accept a compromise: instead of a year-long extension that Democrats had requested, Durbin sought a three-month extension, at a cost of just $500 million, in order to keep the fund alive through the end of the year. Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) refused to allow it.
"The majority has known this program was going to expire at the end of this month all year and has taken no steps to reauthorize this important social safety net program," said Enzi, who blocked Durbin's request for "unanimous consent" for a reauthorization.
Enzi either isn't very bright or he hasn't been paying attention. Dems first tried to reauthorize the TANF Emergency Fund in March, but Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) blocked it. Dems tried again earlier this month, but Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) blocked it. Dems tried again this week, but Enzi blocked it.
Regardless, what difference does it make when and how often it's come up? If Enzi agrees that this is an "important social safety net program," then why the hell did he feel it necessary to let it die?
.....
Republicans will keep asking, "Where are the jobs?" and no one seems inclined to answer, "Your party got rid of them."
What does it mean in terms of people's lives? Some examples:
- In New Jersey, homeless families will receive much less help. A fund-supported program that assisted 3,678 homeless families in need of social services in the first seven months of the year will be significantly scaled back today.
- Nevada, facing an unemployment rate of 14.4 percent — the highest in the nation — will reduce TANF funding for child welfare services, a program for autistic children, and other services for vulnerable families. These cuts were part of $9 million in cuts the state specified in its budget that would take effect if Congress failed to extend the fund.
- In Washington State, the fund’s expiration more than doubled the size of the state’s TANF budget shortfall, from $50 to $110 million. The state is considering reducing child care assistance, shrinking monthly TANF cash assistance benefits, and scaling back its subsidized jobs program, among other things
- Texas, facing a statewide budget shortfall of between $11 and $18 billion, has proposed cutting its already low TANF benefits of $260 per month for a family of three by 20 percent.
A lot more hurt, that Republicans will continue to disingenuously blame on the Democrats.