Senate Republicans including Scott Brown Block Small Business Bill

Remember when Scott Brown said he'd be an independent senator who voted the interests of Massachusetts? Well not so fast. Scott Brown and every single other Republican senator voted against a bill Thursday that would aid small businesses by cutting taxes and making credit available. Just as a reminder, what was it Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said when Brown joined the Senate?

Sen. Scott Brown, the Republican who won the Massachusetts Senate seat held by Edward Kennedy for four decades, so thrilled Minority Leader Mitch McConnell that he declared he would always think of Brown as the GOP's 41st seat, enough to block legislation by filibuster. [1]

And so they did. But what is particularly outrageous about this vote, is that business, per se, is one of the interests Republicans support consistently. Moreover, three Republican senators helped write this bill and as such it was replete with provisions Republicans support. The bill was also paid for so it wasn't a matter of the deficit. No! What the Republicans objected to was that Democrats would get a legislative win so close to an election. So rather than support the bill and help small business, and help the economy grow, they voted no to the Small Business Jobs and Credit Act of 2010. Thanks anyway Scott Brown. You suck.

Avery Fellow of Courthouse News Service reports:

Senate Republicans blocked a bill Thursday that would aid small businesses by cutting taxes and making credit available.

"This is as American as apple pie," President Obama told an audience in New Jersey this week before the failed Senate vote. "Small businesses are the backbone of our economy....They are going to lead this recovery....Surely, Democrats and Republicans ought to be able to agree on this bill."

But the Senate voted 58-42 in favor of closing debate on the bill, falling short of the 60 votes needed to bring it to a final vote. No Republicans voted in favor of moving the bill forward, while Democrats voted unanimously in favor of advancing the bill.

The vote blocks $12 billion in tax breaks to small businesses.

The bill, officially called the Small Business Jobs and Credit Act of 2010, would eliminate capital gains taxes for investments made by small businesses and increase tax deductions for new equipment and other expenses. read more