Cross posted on myDD

On Friday Reuters reported what many had expected, the second economic stimulus package had failed the Senate.

The 52-42 vote fell short of the 60 votes needed in the 100-member Senate for Democrats to clear a Republican procedural hurdle and move toward passage of the bill, which backers said would give the ailing U.S. economy a needed boost.

Although according to the Associated Press, we probably should have seen this coming:

With most Republicans opposed, however, the Reid-Byrd stimulus plan measure is likely to stall. Democrats are then likely to hold the vote against Republicans in the campaign for control of Congress.

And rightfully so, because blocking the measures that would be taken in this stimulus package is deplorable:

The Senate stimulus measure provides $6 billion to extend unemployment benefits by seven weeks in all states and by 13 weeks in states with high jobless rates. It also contains almost $20 billion to increase federal payments to states for the Medicaid health care program for the poor and disabled.

...the House stimulus measure will be more focused on producing jobs, including $25 billion for infrastructure projects like building new roads and repairing bridges.

Republicans did what they do best, blocked meaningful legislation that would have done wonders for the people on “main street” who they are supposedly working hard for. Instead of thousands of new jobs and the prevention of cuts to critical services, we have nothing. Excellent job Congressional Republicans, you have my vote.

So why did Republicans vote against the bill?

Republicans said they did not have time to review the spending measures properly

Well I can see how that would be difficult amidst an economic crisis that they and President Bush helped to create.

Now lets take a look at the “people of Main Street” that Congressional Republicans decided to leave behind.

In California, according to Capitol Weekly:

An estimated 10,000 state workers who lost their jobs during the fight over the 2008-09 budget are likely to be without state work until next June, although the heads of state agencies have been told privately they will have leeway over rehiring some workers.

The laid-off temporary workers, who include retired annuitants and seasonal workers, lost their jobs following Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s July 31 executive order.

In Maryland, according to the Washington Post:

Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley announced yesterday that he has asked state agencies to identify hundreds of millions of dollars in spending cuts, as much as 5 percent of state government expenditures, to balance the budget as major revenue sources decline in the sour economy.

O’Malley (D) predicted an “extraordinarily difficult budget next year” if his administration does not start to pare spending during the current fiscal year. “While these cuts will not be easy, it is clear that the economic crisis our nation is experiencing will have a dramatic impact on next year’s budget,” he said in a statement.

In Colorado, according to the Denver Post:

Days after discounting an economic forecast that predicted a $100 million shortfall in the current year’s state budget, Gov. Bill Ritter on Thursday announced a partial hiring freeze for state employees and other steps to cut spending.

“These are uncertain times, to say the least,” Ritter told reporters at a news conference in which he announced the moves, which also include delaying construction projects on college campuses and for full-day kindergarten.

“We must take steps now to ensure we have options should state revenues begin to dramatically decline,” he said.

And finally in Utah, according to the Salk Lake City Tribune:

The Utah Department of Health proposed achieving its 3 percent reduction mainly through a $10 million cut in Medicaid, triggering a $23 million loss in matching federal funds.

Some optional programs such as vision care, physical therapy, and speech and hearing would disappear, and an average 2 percent increase in provider inflation, which took effect in July, would be rolled back.

Qualifying for help also could become tougher. Pregnant women, except for those who are high risk, would see the amount of assets they can have drop to $3,000 from $5,000.

The attempts by Congressional Republicans to make a second economic stimulus package work were mediocre at best, and frankly embarrassing and insulting to those who would have benefited from a second stimulus package done the right way.

So what did we learn about Republicans from this mess? Bailing out Wall Street is always critical, providing aid to the states rarely is. Debating the proper levels of compensation packages for CEOs always takes precedence over debating Medicaid funding and extending unemployment benefits. And most importantly, Republicans talk a tough game about the economy and helping the average American, but rarely put their money where their mouth is.