Durbin, Kirk Discuss Jobs Bill Ahead Of Capitol Hill Vote
Updated 10/11/11 - 3:09 p.m.
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Both U.S. Senators from Illinois hosted news conferences on Tuesday and explained where they stand on President Barack Obama's jobs package.
As WBBM Newsradio's Bob Roberts explains, both senators then headed for Washington, D.C., for a vote that is expected to kill the president's jobs plan.
On Tuesday evening, lawmakers on Capitol Hill are scheduled to debate the president's jobs bill and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said its fate lies in support from both sides of the aisle.
LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Bob Roberts reports
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Durbin said he expects Democrats on Capitol Hill to speak in favor of, and vote for, the jobs plan in overwhelming numbers, but he said Democrats need votes from 11 Republicans to avoid a filibuster and move the $447 billion "American Jobs Act" forward in the Senate.
"There is no indication of any Republican senator willing to support President Obama's jobs bill. That is awful," Durbin said.
So why vote at all if no Republicans will sign on to the bill?
"It's the nature of our political system that people are held accountable and people that want to vote for or against the president will have their chance to do it and then defend their position to the American voters," Durbin said.
Durbin said he's frustrated. So is U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, but for different reasons.
Kirk said the president's first stimulus package did little to improve the economy.
"Should we pass a Stimulus Two if Stimulus One didn't work?" Kirk said. "An unnecessary trade war, as we teeter on the edge of a possible recession, is not what we need."
He also said the president should stop being so insistent on passing his jobs package as a whole and break out parts on which both sides can agree, such as a cut in the payroll tax and continued tax breaks for the purchase of business equipment.
Votes are also expected this week on free trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama.
