Votes For Yet Another Massive Stimulus Bill, Despite Opposition From Major Small-Business Groups

Even as virtually every major small-business group expressed their concern that a new, permanent tax on America’s job creators would “significantly impair” job creation, Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) once again voted in lockstep with President Obama today in support of yet another round of massive government spending – making Manchin three-for-three when it comes to voting for Obama’s “stimulus” spending proposals, despite claiming he’s concerned “about the level of spending that President Obama has proposed.”

“It seems Joe Manchin has never met one of President Obama’s big government spending bills that he didn’t like, and today’s vote is just another example of his reckless spending record in Washington,” National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Chris Bond said today.  “It also represents a defining difference in next year’s election – Joe Manchin believes it’s the federal government that creates jobs, through higher taxes and more debt, while Republicans believe government should get its boot off the backs of America’s small businesses so that they can create jobs and grow our economy.”

Notably, Manchin’s vote for Stimulus 2.0 came just one day after President Obama campaigned for his latest spending bill yesterday at an event in the tony Georgetown neighborhood of Washington D.C. – a city which actually received nearly 10 times the national average of funding per capita from the first $825 billion stimulus, but where unemployment has actually increased from 8.6 percent to 11.1 percent since the Democrats charged it to the national credit card more than two years ago.

Meanwhile, as Manchin and his fellow liberal Democrats continue to hold votes on spending bills that are designed to fail, as they remain focused on next year’s election instead of helping the economy, they continue to block a key element of the President’s jobs bill which actually has bipartisan support.  Even as the House of Representatives last week overwhelmingly voted to repeal a tax provision for government contractors that the White House says will help the economy, Senate Democrats such as Manchin refused to hold a vote on it today.

What America’s Job Creators Are Saying About Stimulus 2.0

‘Would Significantly Impair… Small Businesses And Entrepreneurs’

U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: “The Chamber strongly opposes the job killing tax hikes on small businesses—the drivers of job creation and economic growth in America—provided in the ‘Rebuild America Jobs Act.’” (“Letter On S.1769, The ‘Rebuild America Jobs Act,’” U.S. Chamber Of Commerce, 11/1/11)

• “The ‘Rebuild America Jobs Act’ is a charade because it would do little to address these and other transportation infrastructure challenges.” (“Letter On S.1769, The ‘Rebuild America Jobs Act,’” U.S. Chamber Of Commerce, 11/1/11)

• “…a burdensome and onerous tax increase on Americas small businesses, entrepreneurs and other job creators… it would significantly impair the ability of small businesses and entrepreneurs to create jobs and grow the U.S. economy.” (“Letter On S.1769, The ‘Rebuild America Jobs Act,’” U.S. Chamber Of Commerce, 11/1/11)

• “Simply put, this bill is nothing more than a tax increase masquerading as the answer to America’s transportation infrastructure investment challenges.” (“Letter On S.1769, The ‘Rebuild America Jobs Act,’” U.S. Chamber Of Commerce, 11/1/11)

‘4 Out Of 5 Of The Taxpayers Who Will Face This Surtax Are Business Owners’

“…the Senate legislation would pay for this new stimulus spending bill by raising tax rates on hundreds of thousands of business owners, a job killing tax hike…” (The Tax Relief Coalition Management Committee Letter, 11/2/11)

• “…the Obama Administration’s own data demonstrates that 4 out of 5 of the taxpayers who will face this surtax are business owners…” (The Tax Relief Coalition Management Committee Letter, 11/2/11)

• “…the burden of the proposed tax increases would fall disproportionately on the income of America’s small and mid-sized businesses…” (The Tax Relief Coalition Management Committee Letter, 11/2/11)

• “…the proposal before the Senate is a job killing punitive tax hike that moves our tax code in the exact opposite direction from where we should be going if we want to see job creation and economic growth.” (The Tax Relief Coalition Management Committee Letter, 11/2/11)

“The Tax Relief Coalition (TRC), an organization of more than 1,000 trade associations, corporations and advocacy groups…” (The Tax Relief Coalition Management Committee Letter, 11/2/11)

• “TRC members represent 1.8 million businesses of all sizes, from every state and from every industry sector – businesses that invest in our economy and create jobs.” (The Tax Relief Coalition Management Committee Letter, 11/2/11)

US Chamber Of Commerce

National Federation Of Independent Businesses

National Association Of Manufacturers

National Association Of Wholesaler-Distributors

Associated General Contractors

International Foodservice Distributors Association

‘Falls Short’ ‘Does Not Include Any Of The Reforms Needed’

ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS: “…it falls short of our desire for multiyear funding certainty.” (The Associated General Contractors Of America, Letter, 11/2/11)

• “It also includes a permanent increase in the income tax on individuals, many of whom are undoubtedly small business owners.” (The Associated General Contractors Of America, Letter, 11/2/11)

• “It does not extend the Highway Trust Fund spending authority and it does not include any of the reforms needed to enhance the delivery of transportation improvements that our country needs…” (The Associated General Contractors Of America, Letter, 11/2/11)

• “…could potentially sideline a great bipartisan opportunity to improve and reauthorize the country’s transportation programs.” (The Associated General Contractors Of America, Letter, 11/2/11)

MANCHIN WORDS:

‘Serious Questions About The Level Of Spending That President Obama Has Proposed’ 

SEN. JOE MANCHIN (D-WV): “I have serious questions about the level of spending that President Obama has proposed, as well as the actual effectiveness some of these policies will have when it comes to creating jobs…” (“Manchin’s Strategy For Surviving 2012 In A Red State: Bash President Obama,” The Hill, 9/14/11)

MANCHIN ACTIONS:

Support President Obama’s Stimulus Proposal 3 Times In A Row

Sen. Manchin ‘To Sponsor New Legislation’ That ‘Resembles The Infrastructure Spending’ In Obama’s Stimulus Bill:

• “Manchin is joining several other Senate Democrats to sponsor new legislation after one piece of President Barack Obama’s $447 billion American Jobs Act failed the Senate Oct. 20.” (WOWK-TV, 10/24/11)

• “The bill resembles the infrastructure spending President Barack Obama proposed in his ill-fated jobs bill, which has stalled in Congress. The president’s $447 billion plan also included $50 billion for highways, transit, rail and aviation projects.” (“Manchin Jobs Bill Touts Infrastructure Spending,” Charleston Daily Mail [WV], 10/25/11)

Sen. Manchin Votes YEA On Motion To Proceed To Teacher and First Responders Spending As A Part Of Obama’s Stimulus Bill: (S. 1723, Roll Call Vote #177, Cloture Motion Rejected 50-50: R 0-46; D-49-2; I 1-1, 10/20/11)

Sen. Manchin Votes YEA On Motion To Proceed To Obama’s Stimulus Bill: (S.1660, Roll Call Vote # 160, Cloture Motion Rejected 50-49: R 0-46; D 48-3; I 2-0, 10/11/11)