Dick Durbin, Chuck Schumer Accuse GOP Of Sabotaging Economy For Political Gain

WASHINGTON -- Republicans are sabotaging economic recovery efforts because it will help them win in 2012, Senate Democratic leaders charged Wednesday.

"Unfortunately our Republican colleagues in the House and Senate are driven by putting one man out of work -- President Obama," Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) declared at a Capitol Hill press conference called the day after Senate Republicans blocked an economic development bill that they have backed in the past.

Durbin pointed to remarks made by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), in which he said the top goal of Republicans should be to make Obama a one-term President.

"You can see in the way that the Republicans are acting on the floor of the Senate and the House, that is their goal -- their only goal," Durbin argued.

"They want to play political games at the expense of getting this economy back on its feet," he said. "They believe a weak economy is their best chance of winning the next election."

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), the number three Democrat in the Senate, seconded Durbin, noting that the GOP is opposing infrastructure investment that's favored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce -- a major GOP ally. He also noted that Republican leaders recently derided a White House proposal to offer a new temporary payroll tax break as a "gimmick" when they'd supported such measures before.

"Now, all of a sudden, they're coming out against it," Schumer said. "Do Republicans really oppose a tax cut for businesses that created jobs? This is sort of beyond the pale."

"If they oppose even something so suited to their tastes ideologically, it shows that they're just opposing anything that helps create jobs," Schumer added. "It almost makes you wonder if they aren't trying to slow down the economic recovery for political gain."

Representatives for McConnell and House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) did not immediately comment on the accusation.

Durbin and Schumer fired the broadside as Vice President Biden continues to meet with a bipartisan group of legislators trying to craft a deal to cut the deficit and raise the federal government's debt limit, which will be reached in August.

Democrats have insisted that investments and other methods aimed at creating jobs have to be part of that deal, pointing to weak recent employment reports as evidence that it's too soon to simply resort to cuts alone as an economic strategy.

Comments

[Jeff Saginaw]

10:31 AM on 07/17/2011

"The Democrats are being arrogant..."? What planet do you live on? The GOP has upped the ante every time a deal was in reach. Taxes are lower than anytime since the 1950's and obviously you don't know that. The GOP has spent 2 1/2 years saying NO to pretty much everything. We just added $775 billion to the deficit a few months back to avert a Govt shutdown by the GOP so why don't we just take that back. It does very little for anyone making less than $100,000 but if you make $1 million or more you get a $100000 tax refund. That's what made Bush smile for his base--"the Haves and the Have mores" to quote the former President.

[Suedi52]

12:36 PM on 06/24/2011

I understand Cantor and the Republicans view. IF taxes are raised it will further depress the economy. We MUST start with cuts. It's going to be brutal and hurt, but it must be done. Our country is at stake. The Democrats are being arrogant in their propaganda. This will come back to bite them. They are still suggesting programs that will add to the debt as a solution to unemployment. Instead, the gov't must step out of the way. They must repeal Obamacare and hope they can get something thru later. They must get the EPA to lay off the coal plants as their new regs will skyrocket the cost of electricity. It's great to have grandiose views of saving the environment but it must nott hurt the economy. Will anyone "fall" for this propaganda from Schumer, the New York Times, et al? I hope not.

[StingrayCDR]

08:51 AM on 06/24/2011

This is amazing that Dems continually turn to the “old saw” of pointing the finger at others for something they themselves regularly do.

The Democrats sabotaged the US economy with decades of risky economic, entitlement and financing schemes and then blame everyone but themselves. “Reckless Endangerment” (http://www.amazon.com/Reckless-Endangerment-Outsized-Corruption-Armageddon/dp/0805091203) should be read by every American, it is a modern day whodunit with regard to our nation’s financial collapse and it puts the bulk of the blame squarely on the laps of Democrats. Next time Schumer points the finger it should be while he is looking in a mirror.

[beerbagger]

03:58 AM on 06/24/2011

Hey but Wall St., the auto industry, big pharma, health insurance, the industrial military machine, and those 2%'ers benefiting from the Bush tax extensions all got theirs and what government's watch. It's a simple fix.... campaign finance reform!!! Politicians are soft and don't like to glad hand with the public for money cause the ROI just ain't there for them like it is from the corporations and those that run and own the corporations. Don't forget the U.S. Supreme Court recently gave corporations the right to be considered equal citizens too. All that Hope & Change stuff ain't gonna never happen from either party until campaign financing is made fair and just for all living breathing citizens of America.

[GloriaY]

08:33 PM on 06/23/2011

republicans must be called out on their distructive pattern. They obviously have deliliberately done absolutely NOTHING since they were elected. What have they done. Nothing but say no to everything, attempting to destroy collective bargaining rights for workers, dead set on privatizing social security, cutting medicare, firing teachers, attempting tp privatize education, and voting to give more and more tax cuts to the wealthy, in fact trying to give the entire treasury to the rich. republicans have done NOTHING to help the middle class and the poor, but they want us to give them power to make us poverty stricken, and beggers.

[jimbud00]

05:40 PM on 06/23/2011

The CRA created by the Democrats, caused the housing and financial collapse of the United States. Do not listen to the Liberals, but do some homework. Check the information out for yourself. You cannot blame Bush for the fall of the economy, but you can blame the Democrats. You can also tie the finaincial bailout to the Democrats. None of the money went to the American people, but they paid for it.
The stimulus went to the Unions to keep them happy so they would contribute more to the democratic party. Do you know of anyone who got a job from the stimulus? The shovel ready signs were even made in China.
Jeffery Emmelt of GE who managed to avoid paying taxes on 5 billion dollars in Us pofits just ordered billions of dollars of European Airbus airplanes instead of Boeing aircraft. The Unions are going to help destroy Boeing with Democrats help. Hey wake up America, thats your money going to Europe.
The Senate under Reid and Durbin have not had a budget passed in over 5 years. Reid and Pelosi never passed a budget when they controlled both houses. They didn't pass a budget when they controlled the house and senate for the first 2 years under Obama. They have yet to bring a budget to the table in the senate this year. All the Democrats can bring to the table is spending bills. Wake up America befor Obama, Reid, Pelosi, Durbin destroy this country.

[Harlem-bred]

11:32 AM on 06/24/2011

Absolutely False... all GOP, Limbaugh, Koch bloodsuckers talking points.

[beckjr2000]

04:44 PM on 06/23/2011

"GOP Of Sabotaging Economy For Political Gain " WOW! Can you believe it? And after such a wonderful performance by the Democrats! Don't the Democrats still control the Senate?

[Harlem-bred]

11:34 AM on 06/24/2011

Teabagging Republicans control the House.... what's your point. Oh that's right you don't have one.

[donnal777]

04:12 PM on 06/23/2011

Who cares what these hateful partisan jerks think? They will Always blame Republicans when it's clearly the fault of their policies!!!!

[Hufrelief]

03:50 PM on 06/23/2011

How can you be such a hindrance to progress of this nation, then turn around and try to lay blame at the feet of the President? When the real culprit is you Congress. Clearly the poorest performing Congress in the history of this nation.

[donnal777]

04:13 PM on 06/23/2011

No that was Pelosi's congress which the polls clearly showed and the reason she was fired last Nov. Guess who's next????

[Hufrelief]

03:44 PM on 06/23/2011

That's because the President can multitask, but the behavior of Congress has clearly shown that they are unable to do the same.

[Hufrelief]

03:39 PM on 06/23/2011

Obama has tried to bring this nation together politically, and it has been the GOP using pure racism as a game plan to win back the Presidency. When under their watch of the White-house. This nation went from a surplus to a deficit. Democrats, you are guilty of racism to. You have deliberately turn your backs on this president, while all of this has gone down. Just making token appearances to make it seem like that is not the issue. When it clearly is. Shame on all you members of Congress. You have let this nation down.

[donnal777]

04:15 PM on 06/23/2011

What rock have you been living under!??? The Democrats controlled evrything for two years and their policies have been nothing but destructive. You have it backwards

[Kittypost]

06:27 PM on 06/23/2011

If they controlled everything, then why the record filibusters?

[Hufrelief]

03:31 PM on 06/23/2011

Cantor and Kyle are full of BS. You are not patriots of this nation. It is plain ignorant of any member of Congress to stand in the way of balanced progress moving this nation forward. How did you two idiots come into existence? Trust me, it was shared sacrifice. It has not changed. Yeah, by the way, the Democrats in Congress may be afraid of calling you two racists, but I'm not. All the members of the GOP in Congress are nothing but racists. For your information raising taxes on the American people is a lie. Raising taxes on the people making 750K+ is more accurate. The only illegal aliens that we have in this nation are in Congress. All of the members are acting like this is there first year in this nation. They act like they do not know what they are doing and what to do next. Except the obvious, and that is to make President Obama a one term President.

[jhooperaa]

01:47 PM on 06/23/2011

Wow what a reach. Obama rams thru Obamacare instead of working on jobs. Obamacare is one of the reasons businesses are not adding jobs. Obama rammed thru a $787 billion stimulus bill that was going to keep unemployment to 8% and then decreasing from there. Obama spent billions trying to save the housing market which is now in a double dip. Obama shutdown drilling in the gulf and gas prices went to $4 a gallon which has slowed the economy and cost jobs. Obama now admits that there were no shovel ready projects. Now with all of that said the economy is in trouble and it is the Republicans fault??? Wow that is cool. LOL....

[jjs71]

02:46 PM on 06/23/2011

Please, please tell me anything that the Republicans have done in the last 4 years in regards to the economy?

The stimulus for jobs and infrastructure was passed around the same time as the PPACA, also the bail-out of the banks and the car manufactures, Cars for Clunkers, foreclosure changes, and continued job benefits for the unemployed.

All of these things contributed to keeping our economy from falling off a cliff. We made a profit with the money loaned to the banks, kept 2 US car makers from dissolving and saving thousands of jobs (now both showing a profit), job benefits to keep money circulating through the economy.

The correlation you make between shutting down drilling in the gulf and $4 gas is complete ignorance. The price rise in oil was never a supply problem. It was driven by speculation and unrest in the Middle East

In regards to shovel ready projects you are wrong again. The projects were added due to recommendations at the state and local level. They were told by these local level planners that these projects were shovel ready, a great many were not much passed the concept/initiation stage.

[New Father]

01:34 PM on 06/23/2011

Shouldn't the headline say "After 4 years of liberal ran congress" ideas continue to fail and Democrats can longer blame Bush. However will hold huge fundraiser as the stimulus should pay great dividends as billions were handed out to loyal Democrat voters.

[jjs71]

02:25 PM on 06/23/2011

Sure we can still blame Bush, it's his tax cuts, wars, and regulation oversights which got us into this mess and continues to impact our economy.

Please tell me since the Re-DUH-plicans took over in the house, what initiatives have they spearheaded to impact the economy?

[Schooner131]

01:17 PM on 06/23/2011

Democrats are such lying cheats. They accuse everyone else of doing what THEY are doing. I love the Dem talking points...they all use the same words and sentences and text.

I wouldn't vote Dem with a gun at my eye.

[ObamAtomic]

01:25 PM on 06/23/2011

Maine Republicans seek to loosen child labor laws

Republican lawmakers are pushing a bill through the Maine Legislature that would rollback child labor laws enacted by the state in 1991.

The bill, LD 1346, establishes a "training wage" for employees under 20 years of age at $5.25 per hour for their first 180 days of employment and increases the amount of hours minors can legally work. The proposed "training wage" is over two dollars less than the state's current minimum wage.

Republican lawmakers are pushing a bill through the Maine Legislature that would rollback child labor laws enacted by the state in 1991.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/03/31/maine-republicans-seek-to-loosen-child-labor-laws/

I wonder who is the "moronitic' one? I guess you are!

[Q45]

04:19 PM on 06/23/2011

Thank you for the link Obam.

[Q45]

03:13 PM on 06/23/2011

"They accuse everyone else of doing what THEY are doing."

The above is a global statement that is said about the republicans, you own it. Leave us out it.

[Q45]

10:13 AM on 06/24/2011

Oops correction. Leave us out of it.