–Senate Majority Leader: Says GOP Is ‘Betting On Our Country To Fail’
–Package To Help ‘Middle Class Americans’ Remains Stalled
–Senate Republicans Cite Deficit Concerns
By John Shaw
WASHINGTON (MNI) – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Friday blasted
Senate Republicans for blocking a $109 billion tax cut and benefit
expansion bill Thursday, accusing them of hostility to the plight of
middle income workers.
In a speech on the Senate floor, Reid ripped into Republicans,
saying that they rejected the package even though it has been scaled
back significantly.
Reid’s attempt to move the $109 billion package Thursday fell just
three votes short of the 60 votes that were required to end the
filibuster.
Reid said he is withdrawing the bill, but observers say he could
try to pass it again later this summer.
“It was rejected because they don’t believe middle class Americans
deserve a break,” Reid said.
“They are betting on our country to fail,” he added. The underlying
bill would extend about a dozen tax cuts that expired at the end of last
year, extend unemployment benefits and give more Medicaid funds to the
states.
The package would have added $33 billion to the budget deficit over
a decade.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has said frequently that
Republicans are concerned about the deficit increasing consequences of
the tax extenders bill.
He has offered a short-term extension of certain benefits, urging
the use of unobligated funds from last year’s fiscal stimulus bill.
Reid said the Senate will move on to a small business lending fund
bill, but predicted Republicans will delay passage of that bill as well.
** Market News International Washington Bureau: (202) 371-2121 **
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