RedGage

Washington Monthly

Steve Benen)

Senate Republicans on Thursday once again blocked legislation to reinstate long-term unemployment benefits for people who have exhausted their aid, prolonging a stalemate that has left more than a million people without federal help.

With the Senate apparently paralyzed by partisan gridlock, the fate of the aid, as well as tax breaks for businesses and $16 billion in aid for cash-strapped states, remains unclear…. Republican lawmakers — joined by Democrat Ben Nelson of Nebraska — maintained a unified front to sustain a filibuster of the $110-billion bill. The vote was 57 to 41; the majority was three short of the 60 needed to cut off debate and bring the bill to a final vote. [...]

“If there were ever evidence that this is the party of no, this is it,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), who added that several governors would be arriving in Washington next week to make the case for the bill to help states, businesses and those who have been out of work more than six months. [...]

It was the third time in two weeks that Democrats failed to circumvent unified GOP opposition, despite making a series of changes to accommodate complaints about deficit spending.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs issued a statement late yesterday, noting, “By blocking an up or down vote on this legislation, Republicans in the Senate obstructed a common-sense package that would save jobs, extend tax cuts for businesses and provide relief for American families who have suffered through the worst economic downfall since the Great Depression, even after Democrats offered multiple compromises to gain Republican support for the bill.”

As for the next step, the bill, for now, is dead. If voters in Maine — a state that will be particularly hard hit by Republicans’ decision — start making some phone calls to their senators, the bill may be brought back.

The following is a list of all of the Senators who voted to prevent the extension of unemployed benefits in the United States.  These Senators apparently have no empathy for the unemployed in this country. It seems they are driven by Party loyalty and or other interests that have nothing to do with their unemployed constituents.

However it is true that this unemployment extension of benefits was a part of a Motion to Concur in the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 4213, with the Baucus Amendment No. 4386  but the Democratic Senate leadership is not without blame for its failure.

The extension of unemployment benefits for the millions of families who are suffering from the worst recession since the great depression SHOULD HAVE been presented and voted on as a separate issue.  What this indicates is that as long as our political system is driven by party loyalty and the big money of lobbyists ,the interests of the working man in this country is not of importance except during the election process.

Our politicians will say anything at election time to get elected. When elected their promised addenda’s serve only their campaign chests not their constituents

I believe the Senators listed below should join the ranks of the unemployed.  Take this list with you to the polls, write or call them and voice your concerns but most of all let them know that you will not vote for them.

Senator Nelson-Nebraska

Senator Bunning

Senator John McCain-Arizona

Alexande(R-TN)
Barrasso(R-WY)
Bennett(R-UT)
Bond(R-MO)
Brown(R-MA)
Brownback(R-KS)
Bunning(R-KY)
Burr(R-NC)
Chambliss(R-GA)
Coburn(R-OK)
Cochran(R-MS)
Collins(R-ME)
Corker (R-TN)

Cornyn (R-TX)

Alexander(R-TN)
Barrasso(R-WY)
Bennett(R-UT)
Bond(R-MO)
Brown(R-MA)
Brownback(R-KS)
Bunning(R-KY)
Burr(R-NC)
Chambliss(R-GA)
Coburn(R-OK)
Cochran(R-MS)
Collins(R-ME)
Corker (R-TN)

Lugar(R-IN)
McCain(R-AZ)
McConnell(R-KY)
Nelson(D-NE)
Risch(R-ID)
Roberts(R-KS)
Sessions(R-AL)
Shelby(R-AL)
Snowe(R-ME)
Thune(R-SD)
Vitter(R-LA)
Voinovich(R-OH)
Wicker(R-MS)

2 Votes