Repubs Should Stop Sabotaging Economy

There's only two more months until the 2010 elections and the Republicans are still holding fast to their campaign strategy -- sabotage the economy and try to blame it on President Obama and the Democrats. They are convinced that if the recession is going strong and the economy is still in bad shape on election day, then Americans will vote against the party in power (regardless of who caused the recession and is voting to continue it).

This negative Republican strategy is most obvious in the Senate, where Republicans have blocked a bill aimed at helping small businesses. The bill would provide an extra $30 billion in low-interest loans for small businesses and also provide them with more than $12 billion in tax cuts. If there was a Republican in the White House Republicans would love this bill -- since it not only helps small businesses but also would not add to the deficit.

The Republicans have always claimed to be the champions of small business and have recently been whining about the deficit. That means they should be supporting this bill, especially since national business organizations like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Business all support the bill. In fact, some Republicans even helped to write the bill.

There is only one reason for Republicans to block this bill. They are afraid that a bill that helps small businesses will also improve the economy and create jobs (since small businesses create the bulk of jobs in America). And they are right about that. But they don't want any improvement in the economy before election day, and they are willing to throw small businesses and the unemployed under the bus to achieve their own political aims.

But President Obama is having none of this nonsense from the "party of no". He also knows the best path to quick job creation is to make small businesses healthier and more productive. The president is asking Congress to make passing the small business aid bill its first order of business when it returns. He said, "I ask Senate Republicans to drop the blockade." This is exactly what the president should be doing -- both in getting the bill passed and pointing out to the American people that it is the Republicans who oppose helping small businesses and creating jobs.

The president went on to say, "My economic team is hard at work identifying additional measures that could make a difference in promoting growth and hiring in the short term and increasing our economy's competitiveness in the long term. Every single day, I'm pushing this economy forward repairing the damage that's been done to the middle class over the past decade and promoting the growth we need to get our people back to work."

President Obama also mentioned some other things he wants to do to improve the economy and create new jobs (and save current jobs). He wants to:

* Extend the current tax cuts for those making less than $250,000.
* Improve the infrastructure by building and repairing more roads and highways.
* Up this country's investment in clean energy.
* Give businesses tax cuts to keep jobs in this country.

These are all good initiatives and would help the economy. But don't expect the Republicans to support any of them. They decided long ago that opposing President Obama was more important than helping Americans. The only idea they have had in the last couple of years is to vote "no" on everything -- regardless of who would be helped by the legislation.

American voters need to remember this when they go to the polls in November.
Posted by Ted McLaughlin