Small-Business Bill Falters on Senate Partisanship
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WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans on Thursday rejected a bill to aid small businesses with expanded loan programs and tax breaks, a procedural blockade that underscored how fiercely determined the party’s leaders are to deny Democrats any further legislative accomplishments before November’s midterm elections.
The small business measure, championed by Senator , Democrat of Louisiana, had the backing of some of the Republican party’s most reliable allies in the business world, including the United States Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Business. Several Republican lawmakers also helped write it.
But Republicans leaders filibustered after engaging for days in a procedural fight with Democrats over the number of amendments they would be able to offer during floor debate, and what issues the amendments would cover. A last-ditch offer by Democrats to allow three Republican amendments was refused by the Republican leader, of Kentucky.
“The majority leader has graciously given us three amendments and what I’m saying is three amendments is not enough; he knows that,” Mr. McConnell said, leveling his objection on the Senate floor. “So we are not expecting to have an unlimited number of amendments, but three amendments will not suffice.”
The demise, at least for now, of the small-business measure signaled that Democrats would fare no better on other legislation that they had hoped to finish before the summer recess begins at the end of next week, including a scaled-back energy bill. The Senate is expected to confirm ’s nomination to the , but that may be its only substantive action before lawmakers leave town.
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