Why does it seem like things are taking a long time to get better in America?
During Barack Obama's presidency, we've seen 241 Senate filibusters (far more than any time in history) where bills that would easily pass with a simple majority vote were not allowed to be voted on.
For example:
* Republicans repeatedly filibustered a bill to fund health care for 9/11 responders (HR847).
* They filibustered a bill (S3616)to stop tax breaks for companies shipping jobs overseas and consequently would keep more jobs in the U.S.
* Republicans filibustered a bill to put thousands of public school teachers, police and firefighters back to work (S1723).
* They filibustered the Rebuild America Jobs Act (S1769), which would put 2 million to 3 million people back to work.
* They filibustered the Paying a Fair Share Act, which would require people with a taxable income of over $1 million to pay at least 30 percent in taxes (S2230).
* The Republicans filibustered the Paycheck Fairness Act (S3220), which would allow women to be paid the same as a man doing the same job. This would amount to around $400,000 over a person's career.
So the next time you hear someone say Obama isn't doing enough to make things better, remember he is trying to work with a Congress that is actively working against the needs of the American people - just to make him a one-term president. Don't let them.
Barbara Korn
Lahaina
