Washington (CNN) -- Two Senate procedural votes on Democratic measures to extend George W. Bush-era tax cuts for people who are not super wealthy failed on Saturday, preventing the measures from moving forward.
The votes sought to extend the Bush tax cuts for families making under $250,000 and $1 million, respectively.
Both votes garnered the support of 53 senators, but the Democrats needed 60 votes to end debate.
Despite the realization that neither would get the 60 votes to succeed, many Democrats said before the vote they wanted to get on-the-record in support of extending the lower rates to lower earners. They also want to contrast their ideas with Republican proposals to extend tax cuts for everyone, even those who are very wealthy.
"I think we want to lay it out there," Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, said on Friday. "Who's for which approach on this? That's why we're doing it."
"There are no signs that millionaires are suffering in this economy. It's everybody below that," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California. "You have to stand up for what you believe and you have to vote on what you believe."
Both votes were on Democratic amendments and included extensions of other expiring tax programs as well as the extension of benefits for the long-time unemployed.
A Republican leadership aide dismissed the Democratic effort as "political show-votes."
Source : CNN
Source : CNN
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