DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s Statement on Failed Senate Vote on American Jobs Act

Washington, D.C.  – Following tonight’s vote in the U.S. Senate on the American Jobs Act, in which Senate Republicans blocked consideration of the President’s bipartisan bill to create jobs, DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz released the following statement:

“Tonight, the United States Senate had an opportunity to move the American Jobs Act forward.  This bill would create jobs and put more money back into the pockets of middle-class Americans and small businesses.  It was a moment of truth for Republican Senators – a chance to put country before party and work with the President and Democrats to pass this critical legislation to put more Americans back to work and help middle-class families across the country get back on their feet.

“Once again, Republicans said ‘no’ – ‘no’ to compromise, ‘no’ to giving working Americans a chance to succeed, and ‘no’ to restoring our economic security.  It’s a predictable message from the GOP these days, and it comes on the heels of declarations by House Republicans that the American Jobs Act is dead on arrival – assertions that were made before holding a single hearing on the bill or giving it a minute of serious consideration.  We’re hearing the same thing from the GOP presidential candidates, who offer no plan of their own to create jobs or improve our economy.

“Who in the world are the Republicans saying ‘yes’ to?  It’s not the leading economists from across the political spectrum, who have said the American Jobs Act will prevent another economic downturn by increasing growth and creating as many as 1.9 million jobs for American workers.  It’s certainly not the American people, who have made it clear they want their leaders to come together to find solutions that will get our country working again.  The GOP isn’t listening to them – they are focused squarely on the interests of the Tea Party.  They want to return to the same failed policies of the past that got us into this mess – giving even more tax cuts to the nation’s wealthiest and special interests and letting Wall Street write its own rules.

“This is unacceptable.  Struggling middle-class families across the country are looking to us to get our economy back on track.  It’s time for Republicans to wake up, say ‘yes’ to the American people for once, and work with the President and Democrats to pass the American Jobs Act.”