Obama Scolds GOP After Jobs Bill Provision Stalls

By Adrianna McGinley

The Senate blocked a $35 billion piece of the American Jobs Act Thursday night aimed at putting teachers and first responders back to work, but the President says he’s not done trying. 

“Our fight isn’t over,” Obama said in a statement Thursday. “We will keep working with Congress to bring up the American Jobs Act piece by piece, and give Republicans another chance to put country before party.”

In a 50-50 vote Thursday, far short of the 60 votes needed to break a filibuster, every Senate Republican and three Democrats voted against the legislation that would delegate billions to states and local governments to hire teachers and first responders. 

“That’s unacceptable,” Obama said. “Every Senate Republican voted to block a bill that would help middle class families and keep hundreds of thousands of firefighters on the job, police officers on the streets, and teachers in the classroom … Those Americans deserve an explanation as to why they don’t deserve those jobs.”

Republicans Stall Small Business Vote In The Senate

Democrats failed to get the 60 votes needed to overcome a Republican filibuster, and pass a bill aimed at freeing up $30 billion in federal funds to small businesses. Republicans contend that the bill does not properly address issues that are facing small businesses, such as the upcoming expiration of the Bush tax cuts. Currently, Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) are working on a possible agreement to pass the bill before the August recess. For more information, click here…

-Rob Sanna