Should And Could Democrats Push “Local Jobs For America Act” Using Reconciliation?

Now that the new health care law is passed, Democrats are hoping to focus on jobs and the economy. Members of Congress and progressive organizations have begun talking more about the Local Jobs For America Act. It is a good bill that should actually help to create and save jobs while temporarily helping to ease the crushing financial shortfalls faced by the states. Also, the bill has the added benefit of containing the word “Job” in the title.

The question, of course, turns to whether Democrats can pass this bill without needing to effectively gut it to make Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Ben Nelson (R-NE) happy so that it can overcome a filibuster. It is possible Democrats might be able to get some bipartisan support for the bill, but I believe the only way Democrats can guarantee passage is by using reconciliation. That is why it is critical progressives focus on adding reconciliation instructions that could be used for it in the upcoming budget resolution.

Should Democrats use reconciliation to pass the Local Jobs For America Act?

There are three important reasons why Democrats should leave themselves the option to pass the Local Jobs for America Act, even if it means passing it on a party line vote.

1) Politics

What is really killing Democrats heading into November is the poor economy and the 10% unemployment rate. If the economy stays bad, Democrats are sunk. I think any political damage possibly done by even more Republican screaming about partisanship and deficits would pale in comparison to the political upside of a bill that could noticeably bring the unemployment rate down

http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2010/04/07/should-and-could-democrats-push-“local-jobs-for-america-act”-using-reconciliation/

Let all the Repukes rot in the Senate as irrelevant bystanders.