Thread: With Jobs Bill, Dems' New Strategy: Piecemeal Legislation

With jobs bill, Democrats' new strategy: piecemeal legislation

A pared-down approach with the jobs bill gave Democrats a surprise win in a key procedural vote on Monday. Democrats plan to continue the strategy with other legislation.


Harry Reid's piecemeal approach may have helped push through a Democratic surprise win in a key procedural vote on the jobs bill on Monday.

By Gail Russell Chaddock Staff writer / February 23, 2010

Washington

Senate majority leader Harry Reid may have found the secret to moving legislation: do it piecemeal

That is, carve up bills into smaller measures – and repackage elements to include those with broad support.

For the jobs bill, expected to pass the Senate on Wednesday, that meant taking an $85 billion jobs bill down to $15 billion and deferring other elements for subsequent votes. This pared-down approach gave Democrats a surprise win in a key procedural vote on Monday, as five Republicans split with their party to back the measure.

“Yesterday, we took a step, a strong first step toward putting Americans back to work, but ... it's a first step. This is the beginning, not the end,â€

See also:
13 Republicans cross the aisle as Senate OKs jobs bill
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-189262.html