Kennedy thing, but I know Kerry would agree

[TayTay]

Sen. Teddy Kennedy railed against the evil Rethug corporate machine on the floor of the Senate tonight. It was a beautiful thing to see. (I also love my other Senator a lot. He is greatly esteemed as well.)

Anyway, the conference committee on the 2006 budget took out an Amendment that Kennedy has inserted (and had approved by the full Senate) that would have closed the corporate loophole that rewards companies for moving jobs overseas and used the money to raise the Pell Grants to $4500. Denied. Think about that. The Rethugs are so determined to do the will of faceless international corporations that they will not close this odious loophole.

Here is what Teddy K said:

The Republican leadership and the White House decided it was more important to maintain tax loopholes to reward corporations that send jobs overseas rather than invest in our own young people here at home.

SNIP

My amendment would have helped American families pay for college by increasing the maximum Pell Grant to $4500 today, not in 5 years, and restoring cuts to other student aid programs.

The average salary of a person with a college degree is 70% higher today than the salary of a person with only a high school degree. That difference equals about $1 million in earnings over a lifetime of work.

Yet, last year alone, 400,000 college-ready students didn't attend a 4-year college -- because they couldn't afford to do so. Almost half of them did not attend college at all.

My amendment would have helped American workers attain the skills that they need to obtain jobs to support their families by restoring cuts to career and technical education programs, adult education programs and job training programs. Workers of all ages need training to attain skills to compete for jobs in labor market shortage areas -- such as biotechnology and computer technicians.

My amendment would have helped our economy by investing in math and science education so we can be first in the world in science and engineering rather than 15th.

What a bunch of cruel, lying, heartless, anti-American bastards. Quick someone run and tell the people. (Wait, American Idol is on, better wait until tomorrow.)

[elshiva]

1. Way to go Teddy!

:toast: Yes, Kerry would agree. BTW: How is the KidsFirst going along?

[karynnj]

2. They've got to be over reaching on this one

Do you think they intentionally let Kennedy's amendment pass as outsourcing is likely to be a big 2006 issue (and rewarding is not politically smart) and raising the Pell grants is popular, with the intention of administratively removing it? That would allow Senators to claim they voted for it, while not depriving the starving international corporations.

Isn't there a final vote when the entire bill comes out of committee?

[ginnyinWI]

3. they are voting right now

a late session--and getting lots of "no" votes, even repubs. So we will see!