Letting The Poor Freeze

As usual, Republicans in the Senate are obstructing progress on an important bill. In this case, the Senate intended to move quickly to pass an, albeit flawed, economic stimulus package. The Republicans originally agreed to fast consideration, but when it came to the floor, they stalled.

McConnell and Reid are on the Senate floor trading verbal blows over the most recent obstructionist move by the Republicans. They have tied up what was supposed to have been quick consideration of the economic stimulus package by invoking 30 more hours of debate, using the argument that they got it too late to fully consider it. They're actually raising hell about low-income heating assistance being "slipped" into the bill. Heartless bastards. - DailyKos, Monday February 4th

The cloture vote, which is to say the vote to close debate and actually vote on the bill itself, was yesterday. It failed by one vote, so debate is held open indefinitely, stopping the bill for the time being. But don't take my word for it.

By a single vote, Senate Republicans on Wednesday blocked an expansive fiscal stimulus package championed by Democrats, as partisan rancor engulfed the effort to inject a quick burst of spending into the slowing economy.

The package needed 60 votes under Senate rules to move forward but failed 58 to 41, with 8 Republicans joining 48 Democrats and 2 independents in support of it. The majority leader, Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, switched his vote to no from yes at the last second, a parliamentary move that lets him control the next steps on the bill. - The New York Times

There are two important facts to come out of this event. First, it was that paragon of bipartisanship and integrity, John McCain, who single-handedly caused the cloture vote to fail. Every other Senator was there and voted, but John McCain put his Presidential campaign ahead of the economy and the poor and missed the vote. If the economy is truly in a recession, and all parties agree that stimulus is necessary, then how can John McCain miss this vote? It is an abdication of leadership in the face of a true need. That is distinctively unpresidential.

Second, the reason the Republicans blocked this bill must not be missed. The reason they opposed the bill was because it included heating assistance for poor people.
That bears repeating.

The reason Republicans blocked the economic stimulus package in the Senate was because it included assistance for poor people to pay their heating bills.

Isn't the point of economic stimulus to help those most at risk of sliding into destitution? Isn't the whole point to prevent consumer debt from constricting the economy? Isn't it the responsibility of government to make sure that its citizens don't freeze in the winter?

I am appalled at the Jan. 3 story of the 90-year-old woman who froze to death and her disabled, senior citizen daughter was hospitalized because the utility company turned off their power.

How could this happen in America, the richest country in the world? Why was the story buried in the middle of the newspaper? - Letter To The Editor, Jackson City Patriot, January 2008

This brings a whole new meaning to the phrase "cold-hearted Republicans." Why do the Republicans insist on standing in the way of health insurance for our kids and heat for the poor? What is it about our neighbors who are most at risk of hurt and suffering that makes them want to cause those neighbors hurt and suffering?

One vote in the Senate. That is all that stood between our neighbors most at risk and some much needed help with heating bills. This is why we need not only to change the White House, but keep changing the Congress. This is why elections matter. This is why we fight.