Peter Urban “Philosophically, I am not Stephens Washington Bureau sure it is wise for the WASHINGTON — Sen. Mark Pryor, federal government to take on D-Ark., joined Senate the responsibility of paying Republicans in blocking teachers and firefighters,” action on a $35 billion piece he said Wednesday. of President Obama’s jobs On the practical level, Pryor bill. said, Arkansas has not run a The 50-50 Senate vote late budget deficit and teachers Thursday on a procedural have not faced layoffs. issue scuttled a bill to Last week, Senate Republicans provide states with $35 banded together to shelve billion to retain or rehire Obama’s $447 billion teachers and other public “American Jobs Act” that sector workers. Sixty votes offered a combination of were needed to advance. payroll tax cuts, business Pryor and Sens. Ben Nelson, D- tax credits and public works Neb., and Joe Lieberman, I- spending to boost the economy. Conn., joined 47 Republicans Critics said the Obama plan in opposition. echoed the 2009 stimulus bill Obama issued a press that they say did not reduce statement shortly after unemployment. They also midnight railing against the balked at supporting a Republican-led blockade. package that would be offset “Every Senate Republican by new taxes, even as voted to block a bill that Democrats amended it so the would help middle class tax burden would fall mainly families and keep hundreds of on people earning $1 million thousands of firefighters on or more. the job, police officers on Pryor voted for the bill. the streets, and teachers in Senate Democratic leaders the classroom when our kids plan to hold a series of need them most,” Obama said. weekly votes on portions of “Those Americans deserve an Obama’s jobs bill. Next up is explanation as to why they a bill to fund additional don’t deserve those jobs.” road, bridge and airport Pryor had indicated this week infrastructure projects. It that he was leaning against would also establish a supporting the bill. national infrastructure bank.
Tags: bill, bucks, jobs, Obama, Pryor, Teacher
