Ryan supports protesters in NYC

Ryan supports protesters in NYC

YOUNGSTOWN

The quickly growing protests in New York City that have been dubbed “Occupy Wall Street” are gaining local political support.

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, released a statement today supporting the thousands of protesters who have taken root in Manhattan.

“It was only a matter of time before the American people realized what gave rise to the highest level of income inequality since the Great Depression: a runaway economic system devoid of compassion or patriotism and a political system that would rather fight ideological battles than pragmatically fix the problem,” Ryan said in a statement.

“The demonstrations we see are a direct expression of the frustration of 30 years of stagnant wages for the middle class and diminished opportunity for our youth while the people who shipped our jobs overseas or closed our factories received exorbitant bonuses.”

Ryan said the rallies should be “no surprise to anyone,” adding they should serve as “a wake-up call to Congress.”

Obama to GOP: Act on jobs bill

WASHINGTON

A combative President Barack Obama challenged a divided Congress on Thursday to unite behind his jobs bill or get ready to be run “out of town” by angry voters. Hoping to use public frustration and economic worry as leverage, he called his proposal an insurance plan against a painful return to recession.

In a news conference long on restatements of his ideas, Obama laid bare the dynamic that now is Washington: The era of compromise is over.

Frustrated over getting nowhere with Republicans, Obama demanded that they explain themselves to the country and promised to keep “hammering away until something gets done.”

Despite Obama’s taunts, Republicans showed no signs of switching positions. Instead, they pressed unsuccessfully for a symbolic vote later in the day so they could demonstrate their opposition to the bill the president submitted three weeks ago. They also predicted they would prevail next week when Democrats try to advance a reworked version, which Obama supports, with a tax on millionaires.

Senate puts off vote on Chinese currency

WASHINGTON

A Senate vote to impose sanctions on China for its unfair currency practices was put off Thursday, delayed by the partisan divisions that have come to characterize this Congress.

The bill, which makes it easier to raise tariffs against Chinese goods if China keeps its currency undervalued, is now set for a likely vote Tuesday, when it is expected to pass with bipartisan support.

But partisanship ruled the day Thursday when Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Republican leader Mitch McConnell couldn’t agree on what amendments would be allowed, and Democrats used their majority powers to push through a rule change that restricts the offering of nonrelevant amendments to legislation.

Vindicator staff/wire reports