19 September 2011

Jobs Bill No Time Soon: Recess for Congress First!

Washington is much too busy to deal with Obama's urgent Jobs bill which still isn't in legislative form. Recess for the House and Senate fires up in about a week, and other pressing matters are first up on Harry' Reid's schedule. The Washington Times puts it all in perspective. It 's a great read - see more here:




So, given the president's professed urgency, the next day, Sept. 9, everyone asked where was his jobs legislation?


And, well, it seems the urgent jobs bill hadn't actually been written yet but should be ready in a week or two. When the laughter died, the White House said on second thought the legislation would be ready for a photo op the next Monday.


Well, here we are on the next Monday after that next Monday and we've just learned from the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, Dick Durbin, that actually it seems that body won't really be seriously getting into the legislation for a while yet. The Senate has some other more important business to handle. And then there's this month's congressional vacation, which in Washington is called "a recess," like elementary school.


Here's the revealing exchange with a persistent host Candy Crowley on CNN's "State of the Union:"


CROWLEY: When is the bill going to get on the floor?


DURBIN: The bill is on the calendar. Majority leader Reid moved it to the calendar. It is ready and poised. There are a couple other items we may get into this week not on the bill and some related issues that may create jobs. But we're going to move forward on the president's bill. There will be a healthy debate. I hope the Republicans will come to...


CROWLEY: After the recess, so next month? Or when will it actually begin to act on?


DURBIN: I think that's more realistic it would be next month.


So, as of right now, "right now" uttered on Sept. 8 really means sometime at least one month later.


Good thing the president's own Democratic party controls the Senate. Because, otherwise, there might be some kind of silly, unnecessary delays in deliberating Obama's urgent jobs bill that he says will surely help the nation's unemployed millions if only those Republicans don't connive to slow things down.
It's a laugh a minute, folks.


Thanks to cartoonist Lisa @ The Orange Country Register!


Posted by Maggie @ Maggie's Notebook