Obama to Republicans: ‘Drop the Blockade’

babylonsister

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Mon Aug-30-10 04:47 PM
Original message

Obama to Republicans: ‘Drop the Blockade’

http://washingtonindependent.com/96196/obama-to-republicans-drop-the-blockade

Obama to Republicans: ‘Drop the Blockade’
By Annie Lowrey 8/30/10 2:43 PM

Speaking in the Rose Garden this afternoon, President Obama asked Congressional Republicans to stop blocking measures to aid the economic recovery and lower the unemployment rate. For the past year, Republicans have repeatedly stalled or killed job-saving or job-creating measures, including ones to extend unemployment benefits, keep local government employees at work, help states close their budget gaps and cut taxes for small businesses.

Obama said his administration is considering new measures to help gin up the stalled recovery:

{My} administration remains focused, every single day, on pushing this economy forward, repairing the damage that’s been done to the middle class over the past decade, and promoting the growth we need to get our people back to work.

So, as Congress prepares to return to session, my economic team is hard at work in identifying additional measures that could make a difference in both promoting growth and hiring in the short term, and increasing our economy’s competitiveness in the long term. Steps like extending the tax cuts for the middle class that are set to expire this year. Redoubling our investment in clean energy and R&D. Rebuilding more of our infrastructure for the future. Further tax cuts to encourage businesses to put their capital to work creating jobs here in the United States. And I’ll be addressing these proposals in further detail in the days and weeks to come.

But he focused on berating Republicans for obstructionism:

{This small jobs} bill has been languishing in the Senate for months, held up by a partisan minority that won’t even allow it to go to a vote. That makes no sense. This bill is fully paid for. It won’t add to the deficit. And there is no reason to block it besides pure partisan politics. Small business owners and the communities that rely on them, they don’t have time for political games. They shouldn’t have to wait any longer. In fact, just this morning, a story showed that small businesses have put hiring and expanding on hold while waiting for the Senate to act on this bill. Simply put: holding this bill hostage is directly detrimental to our economic growth.

So I ask Senate Republicans to drop the blockade. I know we’re entering election season. But the people who sent us here expect us to work together to get things done and improve this economy.

The problem is, Republicans have no real incentive to drop the blockade, no matter how much Democrats wish they do. If the economy starts improving due to Democratic policies, that’s better for Democrats. If the economy falters, that’s better for Republicans. Voters might despise both parties for all the partisan bickering stalling important measures, such as Medicaid funding or aid for the 99ers. But they’ll vote out the party in power and, therefore, responsible.