Economy

Some Good News from the Senate

Yes, it's a really slow news day around here, and considering the state of the nation, slow news days are certainly welcome.

Meanwhile, here's some good news from the Senate that made me smile.

On Monday, the Senate will take up legislation that would impose tariffs on Chinese goods so long as China depresses the value of its currency. Despite the partisan polarization that grinds lawmaking to a halt these days, the bill’s support is thoroughly bipartisan, with sponsors ranging from such conservative Republicans as South Carolina’s Lindsey Graham to liberal Ohio Democrat Sherrod Brown. The legislation is expected to clear the Senate’s 60-vote hurdle for a floor vote and move on to the House…

... Between 2001 and 2010, the U.S. trade deficit with China cost Americans 2.8 million jobs, according to a report by economist Robert Scott, issued last week by the liberal Economic Policy Institute. Most of those jobs — 1.9 million — were in manufacturing, and of those, almost half were in computers and electronics.

This wasn’t simply the consequence of China’s cheaper labor or more generous corporate subsidies.

Finally! Hopefully there won't be any jerkasses attaching anti-abortion amendments or some other form of awfulness to prevent it from getting to 60.