Posted on 02/25/2010 7:26:48 PM PST by jazusamo
Congressional Black Caucus members are dismissing a $15 billion jobs bill as inadequate, forcing House leaders to rethink their plan to vote on the measure Friday.
Leaders of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) told Democratic leaders Thursday that they didn't support a measure they saw more as a "tax bill" than a bill that will create jobs.
"I'm offended that it's been called a jobs bill," CBC Vice Chairman Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) told reporters. "I will not stand up in the district that I represent... and say we just did a jobs bill. I think people are smarter than that. This is a tax cut bill and a little piece of a transportation bill."
CBC members join House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar (D-Minn.) and other infrastructure advocates in withholding their support for the measure, which passed with 70 votes in the Senate on Wednesday and which House leaders wanted to pass before the weekend.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) acknowledged that Oberstar and the CBC have "questions" over the bill.
"So I'm going to be talking to a number of people on it and will make a determination on it tomorrow," Hoyer told reporters.
Most of the bill -- $13 billion -- goes toward a tax credit for small businesses who hire new workers or increase employee wages. The remaining funds in the measure go toward the extension of the highway trust fund for transportation projects, a tax break allowing companies to write off equipment losses and low-cost bonds for state and local government infrastructure projects.
Oberstar has said that dozens of House Democrats oppose the way the bill steers a disproportionate amount of money for transportation projects toward four states instead of allowing the funding to be doled out based on projects' merits.
CBC leaders met with Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) in her office off the House floor Thursday. The group is pushing for a larger bill that will have more immediate impact.
CBC members want a comprehensive measure that includes government spending on infrastructure projects and programs that will directly help areas with high unemployment and poverty rates, said CBC Chairwoman Barbara Lee (D-Calif.).
"In no way does $15 billion, a tax-cut bill, create jobs for the chronically unemployed," CBC Chairwoman Barbara Lee told reporters.
Lee said she didn't expect the bill to come to the floor Friday.
"I don't think you'll see a lot of CBC votes" for the bill, Lee said.
The unemployment rate for blacks is 16.7 percent, far higher than the 9.7 percent national rate.
The NAACP and other black leaders met with President Barack Obama earlier this month to urge government to do more to create jobs in urban areas. They said after the meeting they would also press lawmakers to pass a more comprehensive measure that includes funding for New Deal-style public and nonprofit programs that directly hire workers.
Translation: We want our bribes.
The Congressional Black Caucus is a racially segregated group in Congress. Membership is strictly based on race, and yet ... somehow... it isnt a racist group.
Well as long as the pork is being served, might as well get your face in the trough.
The Black Caucus - the same people who gave us Fannie & Freddie plus CRA and a destroyed financial system because any loan denial is redlining.
They also gave us BlackHawk Down because they told the Army that they could not have ANY M1 tanks or M2 Bradleys in Somalia. Clinton should have been impeached over that.
Wait a minute! Spending $15 BILLION MORE of MY money is a ‘TAX CUT?’ WTF?
Dollars swirling down the bowl...
Ironicially, the urban areas vote straight democrat and they still haven't figured out in 50 or so years why they are still classed as impoverished urban areas. Fool me once shame on you, fool me 50 something years, I'm a frekin moron.
As Monica Conyers would say, “I want my loot!”
truth can get you in a lot of trouble on capitol hill. :)
Well said. The NAACP and majority of the CBC are good con artists if nothing else.
NOt enough Reparations in it.
That got a smile outta cranky old Graybeard!
Good point. I think she’s lucky to have kept it together as long as she has. Of course the number of House Dems that have announced they won’t seek reelection has been a tip off she’s losing it, I believe it’ll get worse.
You forgot the RINO’s.
Where’s my midnight basketball beyotches!
The Chitlin Caucus...
It might be a good idea for the Black Caucus members to start thinking about covering their butts. They have betrayed the dream expressed by MLK. They have fought to keep black children in sub-standard schools and they have enriched themselves at the expense of black Americans.
Charlie Rangel is bringing heat on them and is not out of the jackpot yet. If these opportunistic creeps have an ounce of sense they will shut up for a while. Of course they are extremely arrogant and consequently stupid. I guess we will have to see what happens to them in November.
Absolutely, few if any deserve to be sitting in Congress and as far as Rangel is concerned his real troubles are just beginning.
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