Senate Democrats Short of Votes for Stimulus Bill

[DeepModem Mom]

Source: New York Times

By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN
Published: January 31, 2008

WASHINGTON — Emerging from a hastily called meeting on efforts to aid the struggling economy, Senate Democratic leaders said on Thursday that they were short of the 60 votes needed to advance a $161 billion economic stimulus package toward approval in the Senate. The Democrats said that though they were still trying to bring the stimulus plan to the floor, a vote on the bill would almost certainly be delayed until next week.

They also said that they had yet to reach agreement on extending the Bush administration’s terrorism surveillance program, which Republican leaders have set as a condition for allowing the stimulus bill to move ahead.

President Bush, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the House Republican leader John A. Boehner of Ohio, and the Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky have all urged the Senate to adopt a slightly cheaper version of the stimulus plan that was approved by the House on Tuesday. But Senate Democrats, including the majority leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, have insisted on pressing ahead with their own package, which was approved by the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday...

The Senate stimulus plan would cost nearly $200 billion over two years, about $30 billion more than the House package — and Democrats said they still intended to offer amendments that could add even more to the cost.

Sixty votes are needed under Senate rules to shut off debate on a measure and move to consideration of the measure itself, a step known as cloture. Without cloture, opponents of a Senate bill would be able to prolong the debate indefinitely. “If it fails, we’ll pass the House bill,” Senator Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York, said of the Senate version. “But we’ll give it a try.”...

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/31/washington/31cnd-fiscal.html?hp

[quiet.american]

1. Wake me when our "leadership" figures out how to stop running around in circles with these GOPthugs.

[saigon68]

2. Never Happen

Meanwhile these idiots spend billions so the Chimp can blow the shit out of the "Sand Box"

[DeepModem Mom]

3. Yes. How in hell did we get in this situation where the GOP calls all the shots in Congress? nt

[quiet.american]

5. You know, DeepModemMom, for one thing, they're all still too @#$% polite about it all.

In reading the NYT article, (and thanks for posting it) it seemed to me there was a clear way the Dem leadership could have framed what is happening, and that is:

"Once again, the Republican side of the aisle has resorted to using their favorite bargaining tactic, and that is, holding the American people hostage. That's right -- the Republican position is this: Allow us to spy upon you excessively and relentlessly -- even unconstitutionally and illegally -- and only under those circumstances will we consent to give the country even a slim chance to economically get back on its feet again."

Instead the NYT piece is talking about how the Dems have practically waved a surrender flag again, and I stopped reading after some quote from Schumer talking about how they're going to "try" to do something...(?)

Oy....

[DeepModem Mom]

7. Thanks for your response, quiet. You got me thinking -- they do seem tone deaf, don't they?

Just completely unable to communicate, and bolster, our cause. I guess the Right has the blaring noise of radio talkers and Fox to get their side out there, but surely, somehow, we could do better!

[annabanana]

4. How the hell can the repugs get away with the 60/40 crap on this bill?

I can't wait until next year...

[annabanana]

6. Hey Harry!! Make the President VETO a stimulus plan!!

Show him who's on the side of the people...

[dmosh42]

8. Pelosi & Boehner? WTF! n/t

[NashVegas]

9. Can We Call It For What It Really Is? A "Prop Up Wall St. Investors / Protect Bush's Legacy" Bill

And I use the term 'legacy' loosely.

There will be hell to pay, and the next POTUS, legislature, and everyone will be the stuck with it in four years.

[benld74]

10. The "STIMULUS" will never be enough anyway, just save the money and not do it

[dysfunctional press]

15. they only need to stimulate the economy just a little bit...

enough to make it to november...then the holidays will carry it thru to january...then it's no longer cheneyco's problem.

[MrBlueSky]

11. What a moral dilemma!!!

For years, I've been pushing for the Republicans to work with the Democrats to negotiate and compromise. And I promised friends and family that I would be happy with the outcome of such a compromise.

However, I was incensed that Speaker Pelosi would remove the food stamp increases, the unemployment extension and the LIHEAP increases in order to secure the compromise. (In my view, she made a deal with the Devil.)

So, now I am in a dilemma... shall I support the Senate Republicans because they are pushing for the compromise version? Or shall I support the Senate Democrats who want to add the important elements back in?

And I hate the fact that the Senate Repubs are holding the stimulus package hostage... forcing Majority Leader Reid to choose between the House's compromise bill and the warrant-less wiretapping bill (loaded with retroactive immunity.)

No matter which way I resolve the dilemma, the Democrats still hold the moral high ground and are being played like a fiddle by the Senate Repubs.

If I were Majority Leader Reid, I would choose the House bill, then immediately after the vote, introduce a supplemental bill to add in the benefits for the senior citizens and disabled, the food stamps and LIHEAP increases and the UI extension.

Of COURSE the Republicans won't allow a cloture on this. THEN, the Democrats can tell the world that only they truly support the American people and the economy.

[CK_John]

12. Bushco never wanted an actual bill passes, it was a plan to boot the market,

which the market brought and the now that the market momentum has changed, Bushco don't need no stinkin handout to non investors.

[spotbird]

13. Nothing is better than

capitulation. Let's hope the Democrats remember that.

[Doctor_J]

14. "If it fails, we'll pass the House bill"

Really, really bad move. If it fails, make the slimy filth called the GOP live with their recession a few more months.

[Javaman]

16. of course they did.

:eyes:

[damntexdem]

17. Hey, if GOP senators block a stimulus plan, let it be on their heads.

The Dems behind this should not back down -- not that it's likely to do much, but a real stimulus plan should still be tried, not a further Dubya tax cut.

[MasonJar]

18. Let's see, Leahy, you announce ahead of time that you will go along with

the cheaper bill. That really gives a boost to your preferred bill...oh, yeah!

[donkeyotay]

19. They have no intention of helping the dems. They love to say you can't get anything done.

They love to see you fail the base, so they'll particularly like this part:

They also said that they had yet to reach agreement on extending the Bush administration’s terrorism surveillance program, which Republican leaders have set as a condition for allowing the stimulus bill to move ahead.

[high density]

20. The package is crap anyway

This is one I'm happy to see fail. What a waste of money.