Barack Obama's Jobs Package Defeated in the US Senate

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The US Senate has defeated President Barack Obama's job-creation package, as several members of his own party joined Republicans in dealing a significant but expected blow to the White House's attempt to seize the initiative on the economy ahead of the 2012 election.

The $447 billion package of tax cuts and new spending failed by a vote of 50 to 48, well short of the 60 votes it needed to advance in the 100-member chamber.

Mr Obama, campaigning in Florida, said the vote was not the end of the fight for the measure. In a statement after the vote, Obama accused Republicans of obstruction and said he would work with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to make sure that individual proposals in the bill would get a vote as soon as possible. "Ultimately, the American people won't take 'no' for an answer. It's time for Congress to meet their responsibility, put their party politics aside and take action on jobs right now," he said. » | Alex Spillius in Washington | Wednesday, October 12, 2011