maven&meddler

Go get ‘em, Harry.

(See press release below)

I love Reid’s tough new tone, but unfortunately, it needs to come with a sharp stick with which to poke Ben Nelson (D-Neb), Claire McCaskill (D-Mo), Jim Webb (D-Va) and Mark Warner (D-Va). Actually, Reid should do more than poke them, he should draw blood.

Leave a mark.

Since when is it the mission of Democrats to undermine their party just when it’s come out from under the yoke of the Bush years and into the light of Majority Rules?

If they don’t agree with all the Democrat principles personally, fine. But when their dissent destroys the party’s ability to advance any agenda, they need to have guts enough to go join the ‘other’ party that truly satisfies their evolving core beliefs or get’s ‘em elected in their districts. 

If Arlen Specter could do it, so can they.

Here’s what these four are voting against ( under the American Workers, State and Business Relief Act):

The Kerry-Murray amendment would extend stimulus bill provisions creating a summer jobs program and subsidies for vulnerable families with children via the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. The stimulus bill created the TANF Emergency Fund, which provided $5 billion to reimburse states for 80 percent of increased state spending on cash assistance, subsidized jobs and other short-term benefits for families. The amendment provides $1.3 billion to extend the program, which expires in September, until March 2011.

PRESS RELEASE

REID: UI/COBRA BILL SHOULD PASS QUICKLY WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT

Washington, DC – Nevada Senator Harry Reid released the following statement this afternoon regarding the American Workers, State and Business Relief Act that the Senate will consider this week:

“Families in Nevada face uncertainty every day.  If they have a job, they don’t know if they’ll be able to keep it.  If they don’t have a job, they don’t know if they’ll be able to find one.  Our responsibility is to give them a little more certainty and a little more security.  That’s what our jobs agenda is all about: creating jobs, strengthening the economy and giving temporary help to those looking for work.

“This week’s bill helps those who have been hit the hardest.  Among other things, we’re going to extend unemployment benefits to those looking for work, cut taxes for families and businesses, and protect Medicaid so low-income families can afford health care.

“My Republican colleagues have supported some of the ideas in this bill in the past.  So there is no reason this shouldn’t be a bipartisan exercise.  But I’m afraid some on the other only want to add insult to injury.  Repeated Republican stalling tactics – like those we saw last week – don’t help families.  They only add more uncertainty and more anxiety.  We won’t stand for these transparent tricks.  If Republicans want to delay the Senate and deny people the relief they need, they’re going to have to come to the floor and defend it out in the open.

“If we’re going to get back our economic security – if we’re getting our economy back on track – we’ve got to get people back to work.  And I’m certain the only way we’re going to do any of this is if Democrats and Republicans work together.”

# # #