Republicans Vote Down American Jobs — AGAIN!

In their never-ending quest to protect millionaires and billionaires, Senate Republicans once again voted down American Jobs. Last week, they joined together to unanimously oppose the millions of jobs that would be created by the American Jobs Act. Last night, the Senate took up one part of the president’s jobs plan — a provision for nearly 400,000 jobs for teachers, firefighters, and cops — and Senate Republicans had another chance to go on record. And againthey all voted no.

Here’s the rundown.

WHAT:

The Teachers and First Responders Back to Work Act

THE INVESTMENT:

$35 BILLION ($30 BILLION for teachers and $5 BILLION for first responders)

HOW IT WAS PAID FOR:

By a one-half of 1 percent surtax on any income above $1 MILLION (the first million dollars is still taxed today’s low rates)

HOW MANY AMERICAN JOBS THE GOP VOTED AGAINST:

At least 392,100 — with jobs in all 50 states

HOW MANY JOBS YOUR SENATOR VOTED AGAINST:

Check out our handy state-by-state spreadsheet HERE.

Some examples:

• Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) voted against 6,300 jobs to protect the 0.6 percent of Massachusetts taxpayers who are millionaires.
• Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) voted against 25,900 jobs to protect the 0.2 percent of Florida taxpayers who are millionaires.
• Sen. Mark Pryor (D-AR) voted against 4,100 jobs to protect the 0.1 percent of Arkansas taxpayers who are millionaires.
• Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) voted against 1,800 jobs to protect the 0.1 percent of Maine taxpayers who are millionaires.

WHAT’S NEXT:

Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), and Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced the Rebuild America Act today. The bill will invest billions in our crumbling roads, bridges, airports, and other infrastructure projects across the country, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs. The Senate is on recess next week and will attempt to take up the bill when it returns.

Watch this space for more details.

IN ONE SENTENCE: Republicans had a choice between American jobs or protecting millionaires, and once again Republicans chose to protect millionaires and billionaires instead of keeping teachers, cops, and firefighters on the job.