GOP Blocks Bill Economists Say Would Create 2.9 Million Jobs

Senate Republicans unified Tuesday night to oppose President Obama’s American Jobs Act, which some economists said could add up to 2.9 million jobs to the ailing American economy. The bill fell short of the 60 votes required to have a full vote, even though a majority approved of the legislation.

Conservative Democratic Senators Ben Nelson (Nebraska) and Jon Tester (Montana) joined the GOP effort to stop new jobs.

President Obama issued a statement noting that, “Tonight’s vote is by no means the end of this fight. Independent economists have said that the American Jobs Act would grow the economy and lead to nearly two million jobs, which is why the majority of the American people support these bipartisan, common-sense proposals. And we will now work with Senator Reid to make sure that the individual proposals in this jobs bill get a vote as soon as possible.”