Plumline: GOP Blocks Small Business Bill. Who Will Get the Blame?

[flpoljunkie]

(Dems, of course. They are in charge. They ought to make the Republicans actually filibuster and keep the Senate in session until they get this done--day and night, if need be. R's play for keeps. Dems fold at their peril.)

GOP blocks small business bill. Who will get the blame?

As I've argued a bunch of times before, no matter how many times Dems scream about GOP obstructionism, the jury is out on whether Republicans will take any of the blame for its consequences. Dems run the place, and the public may tune out any argument over Senate procedure as so much Beltway white noise.

The latest: In the Senate today, Republicans blocked a bill to create a $30 billion fund to enable community banks to boost lending to small businesses. Republicans decried the move as another bailout, and it's now unlikely that it will pass before Congress goes home for vacation in August, with little in the way of jobs bills under its belt.

So how will this story play? This paragraph in the Associated Press write-up says it all:

Congressional Democrats started the year with ambitious plans to pass a series of bills designed to create jobs. But if negotiations on the small business lending bill fail, they will have little to show for it just a few months before midterm elections that will determine whether Democrats keep their majorities in the House and Senate.

And there you have it. Is this how the story will be understood by the American people? Very possible.

Republicans claimed Dems blocked votes on the amendments they wanted. Dems countered that they agreed to votes on the GOP amendments, only to have the GOP demand more votes. Get what's happening here? The larger story is all getting subsumed in a bunch of Beltway white noise.

more...

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/07/dems_will_get_blamed_for_gop_o.html

[lyonn]

1. Let's demand that Congress stays in session the month of Aug.

Those repubs are anxious to get to their banks (corp. friends) to get dollars for votes. Can't do that and stay on the House and Senate floor. The thought is too funny.

[flpoljunkie]

2. Fat chance Senate would agree to that with mid-terms approaching. The Dems added irrelevant

amendment to the bill, as well, and accepted three irrelevant amendments from the Republicans. But the R's wanted more! Anything to keep any legislation that would help the economy from passing before the mid-term elections!

Call their bluff and strip the bill of all amendments. Then keep the Senate in session until LeMieux keeps his previously made promise to vote to move the bill forward that he reneged upon today.

[lyonn]

3. OK! n/t

[Bitwit1234]

4. If this follows suit to the rest of what the republicans have done this year

about blocking everything...the MEDIA WILL GIVE THE PUBLIC THE RESULTS THAT CONGRESS AND THE DEMOCRATS DID IT.

[lyonn]

5. Ed Shultz was too much fun tonight

He is nailing the repubs to the cross, but, who is watching except the choir (preaching to the choir). Still it feels good to hear him go after the banks, etc., and Harry too.

[applegrove]

6. Axelrod says that Dems in congress need to be really aggressive

during these next elections. Hopefully they can get their message out that way.

[flpoljunkie]

7. TPM: Say What? Republicans Filibuster Tax Cutting Jobs Bill

Say What?! Republicans Filibuster Tax-Cutting Jobs Bill
Brian Beutler
July 30, 2010, 9:43AM

All 41 Senate Republicans yesterday filibustered a jobs package comprised largely of tax cuts.

You read that right. Republicans filibustered tax cuts.

By the GOP's own admission, the underlying legislation has broad bipartisan support. It would create a $30 billion Treasury-backed fund to help community banks issue loans to small businesses and provide entrepreneurs with $12 billion in tax cuts -- a Republican kind of bill if ever there was one.

Faced with a choice between allowing the Republicans to successfully block the bill, and making concessions, Reid stripped the relief funding and offered Republicans the chance to offer three amendments.

That wasn't enough either.

more...

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/07/say-what-republicans-filibuster-tax-cutting-jobs-bill.php?ref=fpblg