Voinovich of Ohio to back small-business incentives in Senate bill proposed by Obama, Democrats

[jefferson_dem]

Republican Voinovich of Ohio to back small-business incentives in Senate bill

By Lori Montgomery
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, September 9, 2010; 7:41 PM

Retiring Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio) said he plans to help push a package of small-business incentives through the Senate next week, a move that would give President Obama and congressional Democrats a key victory on the economy in the final weeks before the November midterm elections.

In an interview, Voinovich said he could no longer support Republican efforts to delay the measure in hopes of winning the right to offer additional amendments. Most of the proposed GOP amendments "didn't have anything to do with the bill" anyway, Voinovich said, and amounted merely to partisan "messaging."

"We don't have time for messaging," Voinovich said. "We don't have time anymore. This country is really hurting."

Voinovich said he told Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) that, if a single amendment to reduce paperwork for business owners is considered on the floor, he would add his vote to that of the 59 senators who caucus with Democrats. That would give the majority party the 60 votes needed to overcome a possible GOP filibuster and approve the package when Congress returns to Washington next week.

With Voinovich's help, a top aide to Reid said, Senate leaders expect to approve the package by the end of next week. It would then go to the House for final passage.

<SNIP>

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/09/AR2010090903599.html

[kristopher]

1. K&R

[bigdarryl]

2. only because he's retiring but it's a good start anyway to have one rethug on board

[karynnj]

10. Maybe not just that - I remember him standing up to Bush and refusing to vote for John Bolton

as our UN ambassador. There was huge pressure for Bolton, that was a SFRC hearing from Hell with the usually very genial, respectful Lugar calling every Democrat who spoke up out of order - even Biden, the ranking member and Kerry, who he clearly liked and respected.

On the floor of the Senate, he was clearly emotional when he spoke against Bolton. While not in the class of the Maine Senators, he is one of the Republicans who is sometimes reachable. On this issue, this is the type of bill the Republicans in the past would have supported. So, it is a shame that they are fighting it - just to make political points.

[WCGreen]

3. It's about time he did something to help our state and the country...

He has been part of the problem here in Ohio since the mid 70's...

[madmom]

7. What you said!!! .... +1

[Ninga]

9. Hope he remembers.....since he has memory problems like knowIng who his

staffers are and their names.

[old mark]

4. Wow - a republican Senator who cares about the country...ONE!

and he's retiring, so he feels it's OK to vote for a good and much needed bill.

A republican Senator votes for the good of the US and it makes headlines.

And I am sure the rest of the GOPers will hate him for it.

mark

[asjr]

5. At least his legacy will go up one notch.

[old mark]

8. Not complaining about him - just that it is so noteworthy that a republican

would do the right thing...newsmaking!

Remember "Country First"? Didn't last long, did it?

mark

[saltpoint]

6. LOL. I bet the GOP leadership is roiled over this big-time.

We don't have to love most of Voinovich's votes to be happy to take his support for this one.

Recommended.

[Aramchek]

11. what's that? a crack in the GOP wall??

[Arkana]

12. He's retiring and he doesn't have to care what the GOP thinks of him.

I suppose we should thank him, but let's be honest.

[Change Happens]

13. God bless him....Please call his office to thank him!

Washington, DC Office:
524 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Main: [phone]

[opihimoimoi]

14. THE Odds say someone in the GOP has to have REASON and COMPASSIOM(EMPATHY)

[rucky]

15. This is something we won't get if Bob Portman wins.

Please support Lee Fischer. The race was dead even a month ago until Rove started running attack ads. Now it's an 8-point spread.