US President Barack Obama's $60 billion infrastructure measure--a part of the September-announced jobs plan--aimed at building and repairing the US' crumbling infrastructure, roads and rail lines was blocked unanimously by Republicans in the US Senate Thursday; some Democrats voted against the bill as well. Republicans opposed the bill for the tax surcharge it would impose on the wealthy. The plan was thwarted with a 51-49 vote.
The bill's defeat did not come as a surprise, as early indications were pointing to a slim chance the bill would make it through the Senate. In what could be construed as a retaliatory move, Democratic members of Congress immediately squashed the GOP-proposed infrastructure plan that would have been paid for with a $40 billion cut from not-yet-spent funding in other domestic programs.
SteelOrbis previously reported that after President Obama first announced his $447 billion jobs plan in early September, the US' steel, construction and transportation industries quickly voiced their support for the plan's infrastructure measures, in particular.