Obama urges House to approve $26 billion aid package
WASHINGTON – In brief remarks from the Rose Garden today, President Obama urged the U.S. House to approve a $26 billion package of aid to states that would bring $655 million to Massachusetts.
The money, "will help states avoid laying off police officers, firefighters, nurses and first responders," the president said. "This proposal is fully paid for, in part by closing tax loopholes that encourage corporations to ship American jobs overseas. So it will not add to our deficit. And the money will only go toward saving the jobs of teachers and other essential professionals.”
The U.S. Senate approved the aid package last week, overcoming a Republican filibuster. Massachusetts Republican Senator Scott Brown opposed the package, saying there were better ways to pay for it than by increasing taxes on multinational corporations. Other Republican senators decried the bill last week as a payoff for teachers’ unions.
The House is expected to vote on the package this afternoon.
"It should not be a partisan issue,” said Obama.
About Political Intelligence
Glen Johnson is Politics Editor at boston.com and lead blogger for "Political Intelligence." He moved to Massachusetts in the fourth grade, and has covered local, state, and national politics for over 25 years. E-mail him at johnson@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @globeglen. |
