Just say no, no, no

Saturday, June 26, 2010 | 2:05 a.m.

For weeks, a bill to extend aid to unemployed Americans has been stalled in the Senate as negotiators hashed out details to make it palatable to Republicans, who had previously blocked the bill from proceeding. The bill came up Thursday and, once again, Republicans used a procedural maneuver afforded to the minority party in the Senate to block it.

After the vote, Republicans shrugged their shoulders, blaming Democrats for not bending to every GOP whim. Democrats were understandably frustrated. Despite the Republican claims, Democrats made incredible efforts to work with the opposing party and find a way to help Americans in need. “They asked to have it (the cost of the bill) reduced, we did it,” said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. “They asked to have it paid for, we did it.”

Yet Republicans refused, and if nothing changes, at the end of the month an estimated 1.2 million Americans will be kicked off unemployment, adding to those kicked off last month.

For Nevadans, this is particularly difficult to swallow. The unemployment rate is the highest in the nation, and jobs are difficult to come by. Republicans don’t seem to care. Every Republican who voted, including Nevada Sen. John Ensign, opposed the plan.

In the meantime, people are hurting and they will continue to hurt unless Republicans do something to help.

“At a time when people are struggling to find work and keep their homes, it is difficult to comprehend why anyone would vote against helping them,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada. “This is a good bill that helps people who need it, while strengthening our economy.”

In addition to extending unemployment aid through November, the bill would extend Medicaid funding to the states. Reid’s office said that in addition to helping people who cannot afford medical insurance, the proposal would prevent a budget deficit of nearly $90 million in Nevada.

The bill also would close loopholes in the law that Democrats say send American jobs overseas. It would provide a variety of credits and deductions to lower people’s taxes, and it would provide low-cost financing for construction and other projects that would help create jobs.

Unfortunately, Republicans seem content to let people suffer. Apparently it’s an attempt to build support to vote out Democrats. And yet the Republicans shamelessly say the Democrats aren’t doing enough to help spur the economy.

“You’ll hear a lot of excuses,” Reid said at a news conference after the vote. “The bottom line is the minority just said no.”

It’s time for that to change. Republicans have failed to offer any substantive plan to help hurting Americans. Instead, they prefer to play politics and just say no. If the Republicans don’t want to help people who are hurting, that’s they’re prerogative, but they shouldn’t stop those who do.