Posted on 11/14/2008 1:07:12 PM PST by sickoflibs
Democrats in the Senate are scrambling to draft an auto industry relief bill that can win over skeptical Republicans when the measure comes up for a vote next week.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and supporters of the bill, which would extend $25 billion in emergency loans to the auto industry, are trying to round up the votes needed to break an expected filibuster. Reid plans to begin debate Monday and set up a test vote on Wednesday.
But Democrats will have to do a lot of arm-twisting before then. Supporters expect to need between 12 and 15 GOP votes to attach the measure to a $6 billion bill the House passed in October that would extend jobless benefits. So far, they have only one firm commitment, from Sen. George Voinovich of Ohio, a state with several auto plants and auto-supply manufacturers.
In a letter Friday to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Reid urged Republicans to reconsider their opposition.
"In my view, the adoption of a robust recovery package should be the top priority of the upcoming lame duck session," Reid wrote. "That is why I intend to seek consent on a bill to create jobs, prevent large tax increases and cuts in state services, strengthen our nation’s manufacturing sector, and assist those struggling to find a job."
Democrats could include items like extra stimulus measures and low-income heating assistance.
Jim Manley, Reid's spokesman, noted Thursday night that nothing can be done without the agreement of Senate Republicans.
Some Senate Republicans are skeptical the aid under the auto proposal would lead to changes by the companies that could make them viable in the long run. But several states with Republican senators have Big Three auto factories.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Why do the dems need 12-15 GOP votes? Did they change the constitution when I wasn’t looking, I thought only a majority was needed and the dems have that.
We need to phone in the way we did on immigration etc. Maybe they will listen to us this time with a big defeat on their minds!
VOINOVICH....JUST DON'T GIVE ME THE BOO-HOOS, OKAY!?
They are fighting for their seats in 2010 now. They realized their little vacation was over on Nov. 4.
Republicans are pretty good at being in the minority.
“Jim Manley, Reid’s spokesman, noted Thursday night that nothing can be done without the agreement of Senate Republicans. “
He means nothing can be done without Republican cover.
What do the Republicans have to gain by supporting this? Noting. Not Michigan, not union support, nothing.
What do they have to lose? Conservative support, the other 49 states.
“So far, they have only one firm commitment, from Sen. George Voinovich of Ohio, a state with several auto plants and auto-supply manufacturers.”
*Sigh* Voinovich is a Democrat for all practical purposes, and an idiot, but that’s redudant.
The cast hasn’t changed. The Republicans who are “fighting” this, are just trying to get some pork before they cave in. Scumbags, the whole lot of them.
G. M. is already bankrupt. They just have not filed for protection. This package will only postpone the inevitable.
The music will be faced sooner or later.
Why do the dems need 12-15 GOP votes? Did they change the constitution when I wasn’t looking, I thought only a majority was needed and the dems have that.Because they want GOP fingerprints all over this package. They may be the majority. But I think they can sense on some animal, instinctual level the precariousness of their position on this issue.
The RATS just want political cover, and Reid knows that many of his own caucus who have successful auto plants in their states (not the big 3) will not support either loans or bailouts.
Tell Reid to put it where the sun don’t shine. This is Obama’s problem now.
... because if you're going to blow another $25 billion, you might as well top off the whole mess with some gravy.
Any Republican who assists the Democrats in this fiasco needs to be drummed out of the Party or voted out of office as soon as possible.
“What do the Republicans have to gain by supporting this? Noting. Not Michigan, not union support, nothing.”
Pork and backroom deals. Business as usual as the economy is in flames.
LOL Someone more cynical about them than me. Hard to believe!
Nope. The GOP will fold. They always do.
Put $100 billion into drilling for oil and gas and the economy would turn on a dime. Put another $100 billion into clean coal and small nuclear reactors and we can thrive for the next century.
Reid has no credibility in trying to prevent tax increases.
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