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| Senate Democrats Had Enough Republican Votes to Pass the Bailout |
| 2008-12-14 |
Nancy Pelosi says that Senate Republicans were "irresponsible" for opposing the auto bailout, which failed on a cloture vote last night 52 to 35.Senate Republicans' refusal to support the bipartisan legislation passed by the House and negotiated in good faith with the White House, the Senate and the automakers is irresponsible, especially at a time of economic hardship. The consequences of the Senate Republicans' failure to act could be devastating to our economy, detrimental to workers, and destructive to the American automobile industryThe problem with Pelosi's statement is that 10 Republican Senators voted with the Democrats last night, which means the Democrats could have reached 60 votes if the entire Democratic caucus voted for the bill. But eight Democrats bailed on the bailout (Reid, it should be noted, voted against it for procedural reasons, in order to bring it up for a vote again). Four Democrats voted 'nay': Baucus, Tester, Lincoln, and Reid. Four Democrats did not vote: Biden, Kennedy, Kerry, and Wyden. (And, of course, the Democrats would have another member right now if Blagojevich had sold that Senate seat before he was busted.) Does Pelosi think that these Democrats, who had the ability to pass the bailout, are "irresponsible," too? And, for that matter, why didn't she simply call them "unpatriotic"? Isn't bailing out the auto industry a better indicator of your love of country than bailing out Wall Street? |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #4 Part of the bailout, should the Unions not accept the work rule changes, should require the UAW to invest in the Big 3 to back up the loans. No bailouts without the beneficiaries assuming responsibility for the outcome since they will not accept their part in climbing out the mess. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2008-12-14 16:24 |
| #3 Considering how much the Union pension funds had/have accumulated, you'd think they'd have significant controlling interesting in their own companies - if they believed them to be 'profitable'. Wonder why they never did that? /rhetorical question. The union bitches about management exploiting them, only to turn around and attempt to exploit other workers/taxpayers. You are not entitled to be kept in the manner you have become accustomed to when the source of income [the market] disappears. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2008-12-14 11:14 |
| #2 OK ; Give ( give ) the Ailing auto facilities to the UAW, let them be their own new masters. |
| Posted by: reality check 2008-12-14 10:42 |
| #1 "Irresponsible" to whom? To Pelosi possibly, but not to me. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2008-12-14 09:44 |