GOP Votes Nearly En Masse Against Small Business Aid

According to The New York Times, the Democrats are taking the remarkable step of -- get this -- using the powers of the majority in Congress to shape the campaign narrative. As a part of this, the Democrats forced a vote in the Senate yesterday on a small business aid package, one that put virtually all Republicans on the wrong side of.

The Senate on Thursday approved a multi-billion dollar package of tax breaks and government-backed loans for small businesses, as Democrats sought to use the muscle of their majorities to pursue a Congressional agenda that would make their case for retaining control in the House and Senate this fall.

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The vote on the small-business measure was 61 to 38, with just two Republicans, George V. Voinovich of Ohio and George LeMieux of Florida, joining Democrats in favor of it.

Mr. Voinovich is retiring after this year, and Mr. LeMieux is leaving after serving as a temporary successor to Mel Martinez, who retired last year. Every other Republican voted no except Senator David Vitter of Louisiana, who was absent.

In addition to providing tax breaks and enhancing a number of existing aid programs within the Small Business Administration, the legislation will create a $30 billion lending program within the Treasury that will channel government-backed loans through community banks.

Asked if he was disappointed that more Republicans had not supported the measure, Mr. LeMieux said, “I’m just glad we were able to pass it.” He noted that Florida has more than two million small businesses that stand to benefit from the legislation.

Although the Democrats should have been doing more of this throughout the summer, it is not too late for them to set contrasts for voters. And this is exactly what the Democrats appear on track to do -- on taxes, on Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and on a range of other issues on which they have a real advantage with the electorate.

Holding these votes also helps get around the chattering class inside the Beltway. Listening to too much of the political, one would think that Republicans have a decided advantage on small business issues. Except they don't, if you ask Americans, who said even before this vote that Democrats are better for small businesses than Republicans by a 49 percent to 41 percent margin. And this week's vote only serves to reinforce this (despite the spin from the talking heads), with nearly all Republicans lining up against help for struggling small businesses.