In a setback to US President Barack Obama’s push to curb outsourcing of jobs to low-wage countries like India and China, Republican lawmakers have blocked a Bill in the Senate that sought to end tax breaks for companies shipping jobs overseas but cut taxes for those bringing the jobs back home. Called “Bring Jobs Home Act”, the measure was first outlined by Obama in his State of the Union address in January. In recent weeks, Obama had whipped up outsourcing into a major campaign issue, questioning Republican challenger Mitt Romney’s record on this score as former CEO of Bain Capital and then as Governor of Massachusetts.
The Bill, backed by the White House, could not be taken up as it fell short of the 60 votes needed to clear procedural hurdle to start debate. Four Republican Senators broke ranks to support the measure, yet it could muster only 56-42 votes.
The White House voiced its disappointment at the development, but used it to score political points. “Rather than encouraging companies to bring jobs back to our shores, the Republicans chose to play politics and block measures that will create jobs and strengthen the middle class. We will continue to push Congress to act on proposals like this and the other remaining portions of the President’s American Jobs Act that independent economists say would create a million new American Jobs,” White House spokesman Jay Carney said.
Poster Comment:
I'll have to (gulp) agree with Obama on this one. I don't remember when the last time I said that. Good campaign issue for Obama.
