Brown’s jobless bill wins little support Gets scant notice, even from GOP Senat

Brown's jobless bill wins little support Gets scant notice, even from GOP Senator Scott Brown spoke to reporters after he helped pass the Wall Street overhaul bill Thursday. The Democrats' unemployment bill is expected to pass next week without him. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images) By Matt Viser Globe Staff / July 17, 2010   WASHINGTON — Scott Brown, with some justification, makes frequent claims to bipartisanship. But as the Republican senator from Massachusetts prepared to cast another vote next week against an extension of benefits for jobless Americans, he expressed frustration. Democrats, he said, never gave his alternative plan to extend benefits a serious look. "Why is it that I'm always the one that has to vote with the Democrats?'' Brown lamented. "Bipartisanship is a two-way street, you know? Why can't they also work together to pay for these things within the budget, within the monies that we already have? Why is it that we always have to add to the deficit?'' Brown's unemployment plan — which calls for diverting $35 billion in stimulus money to pay for benefits for the long-term jobless and several other items — has attracted little support, even from Republicans. The Democrats' bill is expected to pass next week without him, meaning that on unemployment, an issue that directly affects millions of Americans and tens of thousands in Massachusetts, Brown won't be playing a pivotal role as he did on the passage of tougher financial regulations this week. "It's going nowhere,'' Senate majority whip Richard Durbin of Illinois said of Brown's proposal. "I haven't seen it,'' said Senator Lamar Alexander, a Tennessee Republican. For weeks, Brown has been hammered by his critics for refusing to sign on to legislation that would extend unemployment insurance that expired six weeks ago. His opposition played a key role in killing the bill several times, prompting protests in Massachusetts staged by hundreds of union workers and community activists. Brown said he could not abide by the Democrats' plan to extend payments by adding to the deficit, and he has declined to join two moderate Maine Republicans, Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, who are expected to help pass the legislation next week. On June 30, Brown filed legislation that cobbles together ideas from Democrats and Republicans, trying to come up with an unemployment package that would meet his standard of not adding more red ink to the US balance sheet. In addition to the $35 billion in unspent money that he would divert from the overall $787 billion stimulus program, Brown would freeze food stamp increases and change Medicaid pricing for certain types of prescription drugs, providing $50.9 billion for the unemployment extension as well as summer jobs and a boost in Medicaid funding for states. Brown has called the $35 billion in unspent stimulus funds he would divert "a Washington, D.C., slush fund.'' But in many instances, that money is slated for specific stimulus projects across the country — including some in Massachusetts — even if the checks haven't yet been written. For example, Brown's plan would eliminate $8 billion in funding planned for high-speed rail and other railroad projects, according to Brown aides. These projects, still in the planning stages, include $485 million spread to eight projects in New England. According to a White House summary, Brown's proposal could affect other projects, including $5 billion in broadband projects and $1.4 billion in transportation infrastructure grants, which includes $20 million for improvements in Revere and at the Wonderland MBTA stop; $55 million for a Fitchburg Commuter Rail extension; and $20 million to reconstruct four freight rail bridges in New Bedford. Brown said he essentially wants to fund unemployment — an immediate need — by scrapping projects that might not be built for several years. "We need to get that stuff out the door today,'' he said. "People are hurting right now, not four or five or six years down the road. The money is available right now.'' Brown's stance as a deficit hawk has hardened since his election in January. His evolution reflects the growing concern in Washington, and among voters, that the deficit will hamstring the country's growth. Many economists believe boosting government spending is an important way to counteract the recession, quickly creating more jobs. In this view, officials can worry about balancing the budget later. But the opposite view, widespread among Republicans, is that the government courts economic disaster by digging itself into a deep hole; the deficit is expected to be about $1.3 trillion this year. GOP senators, in speeches on the Senate floor, frequently cite the example of debt-ridden Greece. Most Republicans say they're willing to approve the unemployment extensions, but only if it is paid for with a designated funding source. It's unclear whether Republicans will push any alternative next week. "There's no Republican plan at this moment that I'm aware of,'' Senate minority whip Jon Kyl, said this week. Democrats say the economic situation is so dire that the extensions should be approved on an emergency basis, even if it adds to the deficit, as has been done in the past. "It's a difficult precedent,'' Senator John F. Kerry said of Brown's idea of using the stimulus money to pay for unemployment. "I haven't completely shut the door but I don't think it's the easiest way to do it.'' Brown's antideficit position has not been ironclad, however. In March, several weeks after he was sworn into office, he voted with Democrats and 20 other Republicans to extend unemployment by one month — which added $10 billion to the deficit. About a week later, he voted with Democrats to end debate on a $138 billion bill that included unemployment extensions. He later voted against the bill — citing the deficit spending — but his decision not to filibuster was hailed as a sign of his independence. Since that vote in March, he has opposed additional unemployment extensions and joined Republicans in filibustering any legislation that includes it. About two weeks ago, the measure failed by a single vote. Brown joined 39 Republicans — and one Democrat, Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska — in opposing the bill. When asked this week about the apparent inconsistency in his approach to the deficit, Brown said, "I don't think that's inconsistent at all.'' "We're in a totally different financial situation, number one,'' he said. "And we've made a very solid effort to provide an alternative. And why wouldn't they vote with me? Why do we have to add to the credit card instead of using the checking account?'' Matt Viser can be reached at maviser@globe.com. © Copyright 2010 Globe Newspaper Company.   Carl Ray Louk "FRIENDSHIP NEVER ENDS" SG-1996 "LET LOVE LEAD THE WAY" SG-2000 "THE PHOENIX SHALL RISE" SD "EVEN A MAN WHO IS PURE IN HEART AND SAYS HIS PRAYERS BY NIGHT, MAY BECOME A WOLF WHEN THE WOLFBANE BLOOMS AND THE AUTUMN MOON IS BRIGHT." LT-1941 "FLESH OF MY FLESH; BLOOD OF MY BLOOD; KIN OF MY KIN WHEN SAY COME TO YOU, YOU SHALL CROSS LAND OR SEA TO DO MY BIDDING!" CVTD-1895 "FROM HELL'S HEART I STAB AT THEE, FOR HATE SAKE I SPIT MY LAST BREATH AT THEE" CA-1895  "I HAVE BEEN, AND ALWAYS SHALL BE YOUR FRIEND" Spock  "TRICK OR TREAT, TRICK OR TREAT CANDY IS DANDY BUT MURDER, OH MURDER, IS SO SWEET" CRL-2003  "EYE OF NEWT, AND TOE OF FROG, WOOL OF BAT, AND TONGUE OF DOG ADDER'S FORK, BLIND-WORM'S STING, LIZARD'S LEG, AND OWLET'S WING. FOR A CHARM OF POWERFUL TROUBLE, LIKE A HELL-BROTH BOIL AND BABBLE. 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