GOP Blocks Jobs Bill That Included Repeal Of Ethanol Tax Credit, Dozens Of Other Amendments

[Purveyor]

Source: ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON — Republicans blocked a Senate jobs bill on Tuesday that included a repeal of the ethanol tax credit. Yet ending that tax break remains a live option for budget cutters looking for ways to reduce massive federal deficits.

The Senate voted 51-49 against allowing a final vote on the overall bill, which would have renewed the Economic Development Administration for five more years. All 47 Republicans were joined by four Democrats in derailing the bill. Democrats fell 11 votes short of the 60 they needed to end the delaying tactics and move toward a vote on final passage.

The bill had attracted more than 80 amendments, mostly from Republicans, doing everything from blocking President Barack Obama’s health care law to barring the prairie chicken from becoming an endangered species. Republicans complained that amendments weren’t considered, while Democrats said GOP senators were opposing a measure that would have created hundreds of thousands of jobs at a time when the economy has been painfully weak.

While most amendments were never voted on, senators did vote last Thursday to end ethanol tax credits. The strong 73-27 tally to repeal the $5 billion annual subsidy, supported by majorities of both Democrats and Republicans, seemed to signal a willingness by lawmakers to end the tax break.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/gop-blocks-jobs-bill-that-included-repeal-of-ethanol-tax-credit-dozens-of-other-amendments/2011/06/21/AGa30qeH_story.html

[Proletariatprincess]

1. dysfuctional...

there is just no other word. Congress is simply incapable of affectively addressing the very real problems in the country.
It is hard just to maintain interest in anything congress does now.

[SoapBox]

2. Our house will now use this phrase...Ethanol tax credit = Ethanol ENTITLEMENT credit

Hell...the Thugs are all about calling stuff that actually helps American Citizens entitlements, so we figure that all the special treatment that Big Oil, Big Pharma, Big Industry get, should be referred to as.....ENTITLEMENTS.

[idrahaje]

5. cept it means

more at the gas tank. ethanol gas is far cheaper than the other gas. in iowa..

[Historic NY]

3. Ethanol costs you more with less mpg & more expensive cereal bowl...

[PoliticAverse]

4. If only there was a way to have a separate bill to end ethanol credits... n/t