Political Parlay
The Spencer Report — February 18, 2010
Congress is set to resume session on February 22, 2010, after taking a recess for the President’s Day holiday, which allowed members to visit with constituents about the direction of policy issues leading up to the mid-term elections in November. High on the list of issues that members will need to discuss with voters will be the jobs bill that is currently spurring debate on Capitol Hill. At a recent press conference on Capitol Hill, Senator Harry Reid indicated that he would scrap plans to push forward a jobs bill crafted by Senator Baucus and Senator Grassley in the Finance Committee. The repudiation of Baucus and Grassley’s bill by Senator Reid comes in the face of mounting pressure by the White House to pass bipartisan legislation supported by both parties. However, as recently as last weekend, Senator Reid had expressed his reluctance to press forward the anticipated $85 billion package because it lacked the support of senior Republican senatorial leadership and was a “give- away” to large financial interests. Instead, Senator Reid favors debating a scaled-down $15 billion package which would reinforce tax cuts and credits for small businesses as well as extend unemployment benefits for struggling workers.
This issue may resonate with voters as poll numbers show that voters are determined to push Congress to adopt legislation which fosters economic growth and mass job creation. For example, a poll conducted by Rasmussen Reports on February 15, 2010 suggests that Senator Patty Murray may need to focus her efforts on passing the jobs bill in order to perform well in the upcoming November election. In the poll, voters were asked whether they would support Dino Rossi over Senator Murray if the senatorial election were held now. Forty-eight percent of those polled favored Rossi while 46% favored Senator Murray. The close poll numbers indicate that voters in Washington state may be ready for a candidate who is not an incumbent and that a vote on the jobs bill, H.R. 2847, by Senator Murray may be key in determining the composition of Washington’s congressional delegation.
Knowing that all eyes will be focused on the ability of congressional leaders to address voter discontent with the continued joblessness in America’s communities, Senator Reid is poised to recommend language to be included in H.R. 2847 once the congressional recess ends. The small business community, tribal enterprises, and community-owned financial institutions should be focused upon this debate since it will determine the nation’s policy on jobs for years to come.