Hoyer: GOP Rejecting Everything Obama Sends Them

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) blasted Senate Republicans for shooting down a $35 billion piece of the American Jobs Act that is said to put teachers and first responders back to work.

“Last night’s vote demonstrated once again that Republicans in Congress are more concerned with positioning for the next election than doing what’s necessary to help get Americans back to work. The bill blocked by Senate Republicans would have kept thousands of teachers in the classroom and thousands of first responders at the ready in communities across the country,” Hoyer said in a statement. “Over and over, Republicans seem intent on torpedoing any proposal by the President and Democrats, even if it contains bipartisan ideas and would benefit those who are desperately seeking jobs. It is long past time for them to work together with Democrats to pass job-creating legislation like the one they blocked last night. I strongly urge Republican Leader McConnell to reconsider and allow the Senate to move forward with this and other measures to create jobs now.”

Report: Obama's Domestic Policy Adviser Stepping Down

Melody Barnes, President Obama’s Domestic Policy Adviser is stepping down at the end of the year, Politico reports.

Barnes, a former Executive Vice President for Policy for the Center for American Progress, joined the White House at the beginning of Obama’s term after serving on both the Presidential campaign and transition team.

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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.”

Teachers Head Blasts Senate For Blocking Jobs Bill

Randi Weingarten, President of American Federation of Teachers, blasted the 50 senators who voted against the Teachers and First Responders Back to Work Act Thursday evening, charging that they are more concerned about protecting the wealthiest Americans from a half-cent-per-dollar tax increase than protecting the future and safety of Americans.

“It’s time to set aside the political gamesmanship and do what is right for our students, for the safety of our communities, and for our country,” Weingarten said in a statement Friday.

The bill, which was initially a provision in the President’s jobs package, was aimed at helping states rehire teachers and first responders.

Weingarten added that by opposing the measure, Senators are clearly displaying that they are out of touch with the American people by ultimately putting American communities at risk. 

Senate Confirms John Bryson As Commerce Secretary

By Andrea Salazar

The Senate Thursday approved John Bryson to head the Department of Commerce.

Obama made the nomination five months ago, but Republican objections to Bryson’s views on the environment delayed his confirmation.

Following the Senate’s 74-26 vote, the president released a statement touting Bryson’s experience in the public and private sectors.

“John Bryson will be a key member of my economic team, working with the business community to promote job creation, foster growth, and help open up new markets around the world for American-made goods,” Obama said.