The bitterly divided US Senate late Thursday defeated a $35 billion item from President Barack Obama's jobs plan, one aimed at helping states employ teachers, police, and emergency workers. Lawmakers voted 50-50 to move forward with the legislation, falling short of the 60 votes needed to overcome Republican blocking tactics, in another reminder of polarised Washington's struggles to prod the sluggish US economy.
Republicans opposed the measure because it would have been paid for by a 0.5 percent tax hike on people who earn more than $1 million annually, a step they charged would stifle job-creating investments.
Obama called the Republicans' opposition to the bill "unacceptable" and vowed to proceed with other pieces of the $447 billion package. "Every Senate Republican voted to block a bill that would help middle class families and keep hundreds of thousands of fire-fighters on the job, police officers on the streets, and teachers in the classroom," he said.