Dems rail on Senate GOP for stalling safety net programs

Republicans' attempts to stall the Senate's healthcare bill have ultimately slowed the passage of an unemployment insurance extension, a low-income health insurance credit and a new food subsidy, Democrats charged on Thursday

Expansions of those three safety-net programs are part of the chamber's defense spending bill. Democrats were unable to consider that proposal on Wednesday after Republicans forced a reading of a 767-page healthcare amendment, effectively shutting down the chamber for hours.

"We could have done this yesterday... it could have been done quickly, and we are committed to whatever it takes to get it done," Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) stressed to reporters, later describing the GOP's behavior as part of a "profound strategy to stall and stop everything we're trying to do."

There are three proposals attached to the chamber's defense spending bill, two of which will expire for millions by January.

One provision provides funding for a nutritional assistance program. Another extends a stimulus program -- which will expire for many in a month -- to cover a sizable percentage of eligible low-income families' insurance costs. Still a third would again extend unemployment insurance for the approximately 1 million who will lose it in January, said Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.).

All, added the Rhode Island Democrat, were essential to "countless Americans who are hit hardest by these difficult times." 

Democrats plan to reconvene Senate debate at 1 a.m. this morning to vote on the defense spending bill, which is sure to pass. But that has not stopped the majority party from lambasting Republicans who they say are wholly responsible for the delay.

"What you get are a series of tactics and deliberate attempts to kill the healthcare bill and to slow down any effort to provide unemployment insurance extensions or any other programs to help people get out of the ditch they are in," added Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), who appeared with Stabenow and Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) this afternoon.

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