Obama May Have the Votes for Small Business Measure

One retiring Republican may be coming to his senses, reports The Washington Post's Lori Montgomery:

Retiring Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio) said he plans to help push a package of small-business incentives through the Senate next week, a move that would give President Obama and congressional Democrats a key victory on the economy in the final weeks before the November midterm elections.

In an interview, Voinovich said he could no longer support Republican efforts to delay the measure in hopes of winning the right to offer additional amendments. Most of the proposed GOP amendments "didn't have anything to do with the bill" anyway, Voinovich said, and amounted merely to partisan "messaging."

"We don't have time for messaging," Voinovich said. "We don't have time anymore. This country is really hurting."

[...]

With Voinovich's help, a top aide to Reid said, Senate leaders expect to approve the package by the end of next week. It would then go to the House for final passage.

There are some who might argue that Republicans' reluctance to go so far as even lift a finger to help improve the economy is a more effective political chit for the Democrats than actually passing legislation that might improve -- even if ever so slightly -- the economy. On the other hand, passing a small business jobs bill on the eve of the election that is by and large opposed by Republicans on political rather than economic grounds cannot help but reinforce the Democrats' message that the GOP is not serious about moving the economy forward.

It isn't entirely clear what Republican George Voinovich is asking for in return for his vote; The Post says the GOP Senator who has in the past worked with the Democrats wants a vote on an "amendment to reduce paperwork for business owners." Depending on the exact wording of such an amendment, the Democrats might just have to deal.