Obama jobs plan a 'futile' attempt to lend Washington relevance in jobs debate, says Thune

Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) on Tuesday responded to Democrats' demand that Republicans join them in passing part of the president's job-creation spending package, suggesting it is just another "futile" attempt to make Washington relevant on the issue. 

"That doesn't sound like a jobs plan to me, that sounds like another futile attempt to have Washington become relevant to this debate knowing full well that it is really with the job creators and the private economy where the jobs are going to be created," said Thune. 

The pending $60 billion installment that Senate leadership snapped off President Obama's $447 billion spending plan is anticipated to face a filibuster from Republicans this week over the pay-for mechanism included that raises taxes on millionaires. 

Thune also suggested on Tuesday that the first stimulus package passed by Obama already proved that spending more doesn't work as a way to simulate a lagging economy.