The Hill: LeMieux to Back Dems on Small-Business Bill Amendment

[flpoljunkie]

(Great news! Thank you, Senator LeMieux!)

LeMieux to back Democrats on small-business bill amendment
By J. Taylor Rushing - 07/22/10 01:30 PM ET

Sen. George LeMieux (R-Fla.) on Thursday said he’s on board with the Democratic-written small-business incentives bill.

In comments to reporters and in a subsequent floor speech, LeMieux said he will support an amendment to establish a small-business lending fund, a $30 billion lending pool for banks to lend to businesses struggling with foreclosure.

LeMieux was approached earlier this week by Democratic leaders about the lending fund provision in the bill. He told The Hill that he was considering supporting it since he’s been approached by several business groups in Florida and that the state’s small-business community was struggling.

On Thursday, LeMieux said he supported the provision as well as the entire bill.

“I know a lot of my colleagues on my side of the aisle oppose this. I hope they come around,” LeMieux said. “This is a bill that we all should agree upon.”

With centrist Sen. Ben Nelson's (D-Neb.) vote secured, LeMieux is expected to serve as the 60th vote for the measure.

more...

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/110365-lemieux-to-back-dems-on-small-business-bill-amendment

[Aramchek]

1. uh oh, cracks becoming apparent in GOP solidarity??

[flpoljunkie]

2. The GOP leadership talks big about small business needs, but their idea of a small businessman is

Tiger Woods. The GOP won't tell you that less than 2% of small businesses--the real small businessmen--have an adjusted gross income of more than $250,000. These small businessmen and women cannot get loans to stay afloat in our struggling economy like the big guys can.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

3. Boy, we can only hope

Maybe some of them are realizing that their leadership is marching them off a cliff? It seems hard to believe that they actually believe that they can get away with blocking things like small business initiatives and unemployment benefits. Apparently, some of them may be having doubts- or finding principles.

[Lochloosa]

4. I wonder if he got a call from Crist asking him to back this?

[flpoljunkie]

5. He and Mary Landrieu wrote the legislation.