Offering frequent news and analysis from the majestic Evergreen State and beyond, The Cascadia Advocate is the Northwest Progressive Institute's unconventional perspective on world, national, and local politics.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Small Business Jobs and Credit Act moves forward in U.S. Senate

Senate Republicans' opposition to the Small Business Jobs and Credit Act of 2010 was overcome today when cloture was invoked on a substitute to the bill that passed the House of Representatives (H.R. 5297). The procedural vote to move forward was sixty one to thirty seven. Republicans constituted the entirety of the opposition; two of their members broke ranks to join the Democrats (George Voinovich of Ohio and George LeMieux of Florida).

Senators from the Pacific Northwest were split exactly along partisan lines, as is typically the case. That means Washington, Oregon, and Montana's six Democratic senators were "ayes", along with Mark Begich of Alaska.

Lisa Murkowski and Idaho's two Republicans voted nay.

“Today’s vote brings us one step closer to ending the months-long partisan blockade of a small business jobs bill that was written by both Democrats and Republicans," President Obama said in statement released by the White House.

"This is a bill that would cut taxes and help provide loans to millions of small business owners who create most of the new jobs in this country. It is fully paid for, it won’t add to the deficit, and small businesses across the country have been waiting for Washington to act on this bill for far too long," the President added.

He urged every senator to vote yes on final passage. Of course, that won't happen. None of the Republicans who voted against consideration of bill are likely to actually vote for the bill itself. It's telling that the two Republicans who did break ranks to support the bill are leaving the Senate at the end of this year.

The House will need to concur with the Senate's changes to the bill before it can go to President Obama for his signature, but Speaker Nancy Pelosi shouldn't have much trouble assembling the votes required for passage.

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