North Texans React To Death Of American Jobs Act

DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM)- Senate Republicans filibustered President Barack Obama's American Jobs Act Tuesday night, which in effect, killed the bill.

The President's $447 billion jobs plan needed 60 votes in the U.S. Senate to pass. It received 51 votes. The President and Senate Democrats say they will now force votes on key provisions in the bill, one piece at a time.

Samantha Fields is sure to watch Congress' next move. The mother of three is an unemployed teacher, who is ready to get back to work.

"I'm frustrated, obviously," said the 29-year-old from her home in Allen. "Other than potentially being able to go back to teaching, there were some things in there about tax cuts for entrepreneurs, which is something my husband and I were looking at as well," added Fields.

Fields was hoping that Congress would pass President Obama's Jobs Act, which included billions of dollars to rehire teachers. She went to see the President when he promoted the plan last week at Eastfield College in Mesquite.

"Between the Dallas border and where I live, there are several school districts. It gave me hope that somebody might make some hiring decisions," she said.

The unemployed reading teacher was laid off last May from DISD. She spent three years with the district, but lost her job when stimulus money ran out. Field now blames Congress for playing politics with her future.

"If they don't like this plan, then bring something to the table that's going to get people back to work," said Fields.

Dallas County Republican Party Chairman Wade Emmert agrees that politics are being played, but he disagrees over who's playing the game.

"The President is pushing this jobs act only because this is an election year. He knows it's not going to pass," Emmert said.

Emmert believes the President is sure to blame Republicans for the bill's failure in hopes of pitting them against the public. Senate Republicans ultimately shot down the Jobs Act partly because it included tax hikes for wealthy Americans.

"It's not a good thing to tax in a recession, no matter if you're taxing millionaires or the middle class," Emmert said.

There are parts of President Obama's plan that Republicans have supported in the past. Emmert says the next step is for Congress to break the bill down and vote separately on each part.