Skip to content

House Democrats Face Revolt on Jobs Package

A revolt from the Congressional Black Caucus and other House Democrats threatened to block a $15 billion jobs package that they considered insufficient and misdirected.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said discussions would continue Thursday on what to do about the concerns of the CBC, liberals, Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman James Oberstar (D-Minn.) and others.

But CBC Chairwoman Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) predicted the bill would not come up this week.

“I don’t think it’s going to come up tomorrow,” she said. “I don’t think the votes are there.”

She dismissed the $15 billion package built around a jobs tax credit as “not a jobs bill,” and said a variety of items needed to be included, like money for infrastructure and a youth jobs program, with funding targeted to areas with high unemployment and poverty rates.

“We want a comprehensive jobs bill that is going to create jobs,” she said.

Likewise, Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chairman Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) said the package was too meager to support. “It’s a non-starter for me and it’s a non-starter for a lot of other Members,” he said.

Oberstar has been trying for more than a year to pass a major infrastructure package built around transportation, and has largely been frustrated in his efforts.

Tory Newmyer contributed to this report.

Recent Stories

Trump vague on tariffs after Norway PM meetings

Judge halts Trump push for proof of citizenship to register to vote

Federal judge blocks US funding freeze for sanctuary jurisdictions

At the Races: The shifting Latino vote

US asks Supreme Court to allow transgender service ban

Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton enters race to succeed Durbin in Senate