Biden knocks GOP over outsourcing
(CNN) - Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday chided Senate Republicans for blocking a vote on a bill that would give tax breaks to companies that bring back jobs to the U.S. from overseas.
"They prevented us from even being able to get a vote on that. So it's dead. It's dead," Biden said in a campaign speech in Ohio.
- Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker
- Check out the CNN Electoral Map and Calculator and game out your own strategy for November.
The item, which was a top priority in the president's "to-do list" for Congress, also had a provision that would eliminate tax deductions for companies that outsource.
"They maintained a tax cut to take your company abroad and refused to give a tax cut to bring your company home," he said.
Opposing the bill, Republican aides pointed to opposition by business groups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers, who generally support Republicans.
In a letter to senators this week, the Chamber of Commerce called the bill "misguided" and said it "would hamper American worldwide companies' competitiveness, increase complexity in the Internal Revenue Code, and threaten economic growth."
Biden on Thursday used the blocked bill to fault Republicans, including presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney, for being on the wrong side of the issue, and emphasized a need to bring jobs back to the United States.
"We're not betting on anybody else. We're betting on Ohio. We're betting on the United States of America," Biden said. "That's not just political talk. That is a natural fact."
The issue of outsourcing has not only been a hot policy topic of late, but also a major attack line on the campaign trail. Obama's campaign hammered Romney for weeks over reports that his former private equity firm Bain Capital was tied to the practice of outsourcing.
Hitting back, Romney's team this week launched a new offensive accusing the president of outsourcing jobs through his administration's trade policies and loan guarantee program–the latter of which gave federal funds to a green automotive company that held a factory in Finland.
Responding to Biden's attacks on Thursday, Romney's campaign described them as "misleading."
"No misleading campaign speech can hide the truth that President Obama's policies have not helped the struggling middle class. While this administration puts their faith in government, Mitt Romney puts his faith in the American people and their entrepreneurial spirit," said Ryan Williams, a spokesman for the Romney campaign.
- CNN Senior Congressional Producer Ted Barrett contributed to this report.
From CNN Politics
- Trump's defense team aims to poke holes in Democratic case January 25, 2020 09:12 pm
- Analysis: Top takeaways from the start of the Trump team's impeachment defense January 26, 2020 01:18 am
- Schiff calls Trump 'vindictive' and says Trump's tweet was intended to intimidate January 26, 2020 04:17 pm
- Facts First: Fact-checking opening statements from President Trump's legal team January 25, 2020 08:28 pm
- CNN poll: Sanders adds to momentum with lead in New Hampshire January 26, 2020 04:25 pm
- Bernie Sanders said country needed more jails and 'tougher' penalties in certain cases in 1994 remarks backing crime bill January 26, 2020 04:31 pm
Oh, did i forget to mention that the rich are greedy little greed monsters that pay almost nothing in taxes while the middle class carries most of the tax burden? Sparkle sparkle sparkle!
It would have DOA in the House. Just more political stunts this time from the Democrats. The Republicans will now counter with another ridiculous bill.
JOBS – where are the JOBS?
Every time I post on here it never gets posted.
Every time I post on here the next time I log onto the net a 'spoofing' packing attempts to be sent out.
Obama and Biden for 2012 should read, "Dumb and Dumber for 2012 . . . . .again"
Republicans protecting aech others, because They're all millionaires, They not want to hurt themself, They also own must of the comanies here in USA and others countries,thats why,They in favor of outsoursing and tax breaks,becaouse ,THEY OWN IT.THEY DON'T care about our country ,They only care about them their families and their millionairs friends.
Just like Obama's attacks on Romney are miss leading.
It originated in the Senate, it is a Tax Bill. It can't become law even if the Senate passed it. It is political grandstanding by the Democrats and nothing else.
TAX Bills MUST originate in the House.
The Republicans are now on record as voting in favor of outsourcing. God bless the dollar bill.
These guys are so dumb. They just shot down a bill that would've created millions if jobs!!
Romney need to shut up and show is taxes and explain to the American people how Bain outsource jobs and continue to do so as he lie to the American people
Romney – where are your complete tax returns [don't lie again, the 2010 release was incomplete] – why are you against Americans having jobs? – where are the specifics on your economic and policy plans?
Plenty of questions, but no answers. Just more stonewalling from a candidate that has no sense of reality.
What about Obama outsourcing at GM to China, South Korea, India, and Russia Joe?
What about Obama's Job Czar, Jeff Immelt's, mega-outsourcing at General Electric Joe?
What about the FACT that GM and GE paid NO FEDERAL TAXES since their ObamaBucks Bailouts Joe?
Romney / GOP = pro-outsourcing
Obama / Democrats = pro-insourcing
If you vote republican after this then you deserve to see you job shipped to China and your employer will get a big juicy tax break for doing it courtesy of Romney and the GOP.
Rather typical republican political response. Obstruct first, ask questions later.
If Romney be elected the american people will have to relocate to another country to survive
With the swipe of a pen free trade agreements sent millions upon millions of good paying American jobs overseas so that corporate America could exploit slave/forced labor and non-existent environmental laws in foreign nations. A political gift and profit windfall for corporate America (now considered people under U.S. law) and our wealthiest 1% who contribute/donate massive unrestricted amounts of cash to....you guessed it....the very politicians who passed and currently support/defend these trade agreements. The best government money can buy. Ironically, people in America haven't connected the dots and don't yet see the cause of their current jobless economic plight but instead rally to the very politicians that sold them out. Go figure......
I believe in small business, corporations, the middle class! But I will make it and keep more of an incentive to outsource and block tax rebates that bring jobs home!
You're the one thats crazy! Not me!
More smoke from the Obama team. What this election is really about is the struggle between those that produce and those that use the guvment to loot from the producers.
Democrats are 90% Of Americas problems
Hello ruth