Dems Balking at Obama Jobs Bill

Some lawmakers want to break up $447B bill
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 15, 2011 12:00 AM CDT
Updated Sep 15, 2011 5:00 AM CDT
Dems Balking at Obama Jobs Bill
"I have said for months that I am not supporting a repeal of tax cuts for the oil industry unless there are other industries that contribute," says Sen. Mary Landrieu, a Louisiana Democrat.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

President Obama is touring the country trying to sell his $447 billion jobs plan to voters but even some lawmakers from his own party are still skeptical, the New York Times finds. Some Democrats, balking at certain portions of the American Jobs Act, say they cannot support the bill as a single entity. Some object to the end to tax breaks for oil firms, others are firmly opposed to payroll tax cuts, while others are turned off by the sheer size of the bill.

The fallout from 2009's economic stimulus package is cited by some lawmakers who want to split up the bill. “I think the American people are very skeptical of big pieces of legislation, says Sen. Bob Casey, a Democrat from Pennsylvania. "For that reason alone I think we should break it up." Harry Reid is expected to delay the bill until after the Senate's recess at the end of this month. (More jobs bill stories.)

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