Just days after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid invoked the “Nuclear Option” which effectively ties the hands of Republicans as the minority party to offer up amendments on any bill following cloture, the ironically named American Jobs Act is scheduled for a vote in the Senate.
The Nuclear Option was triggered in response to a call to vote on the Presidents “jobs act,” by Republican Senator Mitch McConnell.
Reid advised that attempts by Republicans to vote on Obama’s Jobs Act are meant to embarrass the President.
The President has been calling for Congress to pass his bill for weeks now. In fact, Politico reported that Obama said, “Pass this bill.” in one form or another more than 90 times in 5 speeches.
Yet, attempting to hold a vote on the President’s bill, as written (allegedly) by the President, is claimed to be an attempt to embarrass the President.
The Senate was considering a Chinese currency bill offered up by Sherrod Brown (D-OH) which was known to be doomed from the onset. This bill was the conduit through which the Nuclear Option arose, thus serving it’s purpose.
The motive behind this was, obviously, to cripple Republican efforts to block this massive tax hike and increased spending bill.
The Senate, more specifically Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, has been delaying the bill.
Why? Even the Democrats don’t like the bill.
Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) advised in an interview on WLS Radio on September 29, “There are some senators who are up for election who say I’m never gonna vote for a tax increase while I’m up for election, even on the wealthiest people. So, we’re not gonna have 100% Democratic senators. That’s why it needs to be bi-partisan and I hope we can find some Republicans who will join us to make it happen.”
Yet the President blamed Republicans for obstructing the bill, even falling back on the tired “Party of no” attack line of the Democrats, the original party of no.
“I’d like to give him that vote,” McConnell said.
In a Tweet from his campaign arm today, President Obama advised;
Tomorrow, the Senate votes on the American Jobs Act-make sure your Republican legislator knows you support it: ofa.bo/TweetforJobs
He also advised last Thursday that Senator’s voting on this bill will have to answer to their constituents at home.
He got one right.
Contact your state’s Senators and tell them how you feel about passing another Stimulus Bill. Also advise them how you feel about their vote to essentially give Democrats free reign over the Senate by approving the change of rules through the phoney currency bill.
Both Ohio Senators Sherrod Brown (D) and Rob Portman (R) voted for this rule change.
Click here to see how your Senator voted.