Scott Brown Backs Aid For The Employed Year After Blocking Help For Unemployed

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) may have gotten a dose of populism for his showdown against Elizabeth Warren -- or maybe he prefers helping people who have jobs to aiding the unemployed.

Brown declared Tuesday that he favors extending a payroll tax cut without finding a way to make up for the lost revenue, while last year he opposed extending unemployment benefits unless Congress offset the $56 billion cost.

It's a position that puts him at odds with both his own leadership and with Democrats, and comes as he's facing a tough election challenge from the popular former consumer watchdog, Warren.

Democrats have proposed a 3.1 percent cut in payroll taxes that would cost about $255 billion. They would pay for it with a surtax on earnings above $1 million.

Brown's Republican leaders said Tuesday that they would back extending the cut enacted last year if, this time, it is offset.

"We need to be paying for a measure like this that's temporary," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said. "And I think in the end we will pay for it. We'll offer an alternative to the one that's being proposed in the Senate."

But Brown saw no reason to go with the Democrats' plan to tax the rich or with McConnell's to find the cash elsewhere, noting that Congress did not pay for last year's break.

"It wasn't paid for before, so why is it paid for now?" Brown told several reporters Tuesday. "Through economic activity, it'll pay for itself. I think we need to get it out there, get the money in people's hands."

Brown had a different take when it came to extending emergency unemployment benefits last December for people who were running out, and cast the deciding vote against an extension.

"I have complete and total sympathy and understanding, and I want to help," Brown said according to a Boston Globe account of his vote. "More than anybody here, I want to help. But to just keep throwing money that's not paid for at a problem ... makes no sense to me."

Unemployment benefits were ultimately extended after President Obama cut a deal with Republicans to also extend the Bush-era tax cuts for two more years.

Comments

[PhilBoston]

08:05 PM on 12/19/2011

This guy is a huge phony. He attended a funeral for a firefighter that died last week and he wore his dumb barn jacket over his suit. Tell me that the guy doesn't have a top coat. He wanted to stand out in the crowd. Making political statement at a funeral, how declasse. He spent the entire time looking around for the cameras. Kerry just kept his head bowed, like everyone else,

Brown is a fraud.

[GoneLongGone]

11:42 AM on 12/02/2011

Brown then voted with the Republicans to prevent the cloture of the GOP filibuster on the bill.

Brown just gave Warren her next campaign ad.

[JerseyGirl4Obama]

10:56 AM on 12/01/2011

I can't wait until Elizabeth Warren takes over his job.

[planetjeffy]

05:23 AM on 12/01/2011

sorry Brown, that old truck won't save you this time
Warren is going to run yourLyingAss over

[Kalikat]

02:52 AM on 12/01/2011

I really hope with all my heart and soul that if the Democrats could take out only two republicans that they would be McConnell and Cantor. Wouldn't satisfy me, but would sure as heck make me feel good.

[Rangergirl]

08:51 AM on 12/01/2011

Don't forget Cry baby Boehner

[hearmeloudandclear]

10:50 PM on 11/30/2011

"More than anybody here, I want to help." (quote from Brown)

The quote from Brown shows that he's flip-flopping all over the place and that he is now influenced somewhat by the OWS Movement. He's another Romney - he will say what sounds politically correct for the moment ... but cannot be counted on to keep his word. Just the quote is not typical of the GOP. The people of America were last on the list of people they wanted to "help." They've been FAR too busy going after Obama and the "one-termer" plan they've adopted for him. "The Party of NO" has said "NO" for 3 years now.

Brown will pay at the polls -- Elizabeth Warren will beat him.


OBAMA in 2012 - VOTE!

[no dash american]

08:53 PM on 11/30/2011

Instead of making hateful comments about Republicans join the Republican party en mass and totally change it from within. To scream at them for the outside does not make them hear you it only hardens their positions that you despise. Talk about a turn around; if a huge influx of Republicans started clamoring for the issues you want enacted it would throw them into a whirlwind.

[GoneLongGone]

11:43 AM on 12/02/2011

As long as Republicans take orders from the unelected Norquist, there will be no change in the GOP.

[Higgs Boson]

08:16 PM on 11/30/2011

republicans are in trouble and they know it

[Kalikat]

02:55 AM on 12/01/2011

Darn the whole country has to know it. With the candidates that they have running for the GOP candidacy for president even some of their own party are saying it.

[Tykete]

01:33 PM on 12/01/2011

Seen Obamas latest poll? He ranks lower than Jimmy Carter did.....who's in trouble?

[taylorskid]

08:11 PM on 11/30/2011

I urge everyone to please donate to the Elizabeth Warren campaign. I did it for you, Florida, for Alan Grayson. I did it for you, Wisconsin, for Russ Feingold, and for the recall drive. I did it for you, Minnesota, for Al Franken. I did it for you, Vermont, for Bernie Sanders.

Well now it's time for you to give to Elizabeth Warren.

There's not much at stake here, just the country.

[luminafitness]

09:58 PM on 11/30/2011

Thank you for donating to Warren's campaign! I am from MA and we will elect her for everyone in the country.

I've also donated outside of my state. I've donated to the Wisconsin recall campaign and I recently took great pleasure in donating to E.Wayne Powell's campaign. He is Eric Cantor's opponent! And I enjoyed every moment of writing my check to his campaign! :)

I know little about him except that he is running AGAINST Eric Cantor. That was enough for me to send $100 to his campaign. I've heard it's a real David and Goliath fight for him financially. No doubt Cantor is well funded.

So if anyone is interested in helping to get Eric Cantor out treat yourself to the satisfaction of donating to www.ewaynepowell.com. Seriously. It felt good.

[kareemachan]

07:42 PM on 11/30/2011

The TP/NOP is starting to *finally* get it, and they're getting scared.

Good.

[CoronaDischarge]

07:16 PM on 11/30/2011

His new commercials attempt to connect him to the middle class. Unfortunately for him they only remind us all of his connection to big money from big oil and big banks and hedge funds ... all looking for unfettered regulation in order to squeeze even greater profit off their monopoly positions.

Elizabeth Warren 2012. A true Champion of all Americans looking to be treated fairly.

[ChezMJ]

06:35 PM on 11/30/2011

Old Scotty Boy is doing what Scotty Boy always does-- looking out for Number One!

[ZeraLee]

06:11 PM on 11/30/2011

So now he is pro-debt?

Or is he just kissing butts and slapping babies...uh...isn't that supposed to be the other way around?

[layman]

05:58 PM on 11/30/2011

The stripper is stripping for his reelection.

[dmm1047]

05:46 PM on 11/30/2011

Brown has his finger to the political wind, and not the one he's been giving the people of Massachusetts. His votes have to be carefully thought out now, not for the good of his party, but for the good of his political career. If that's the game he has to play, what good is he to the state and who needs him?

[CoronaDischarge]

07:10 PM on 11/30/2011

It's too late for him. He's already a lame duck.

Elilzabeth Warren 2012