Kirk flip-flops on jobs bill

Congressman Mark Kirk voted against federal jobs funding Tuesday, just 24 hours after expressing support for it.

The $26 billion legislation aims to prevent layoffs of teachers and government employees.

Illinois schools are estimated to get $415 million under the plan, according to a state board of education estimate. Districts in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake and McHenry counties stand to net anywhere from $9,800, in the case of Winfield Elementary District 34, to $6.5 million, in the case of Aurora Unit District 131.

On Monday, the Republican Senate candidate from Highland Park said he was inclined to support the legislation because it would not increase the federal deficit.

But upon returning to Washington, Kirk said he found the legislation "spent more, taxed more and borrowed more than any of the past bills I supported. I did not support the bill because it added $16 billion in new Medicare spending and levied another $9 billion in new, permanent tax increases."

According to the Congressional Budget Office, Kirk said, the measure adds $12 billion to the deficit.

Kirk's opponent, Chicago Democrat Alexi Giannoulias, criticized Kirk's change of heart, arguing that the measure actually is fully funded.

"I am stunned that he would vote against an emergency bill to keep teachers in the classroom - a bill that is completely paid for and will save at least 5,700 teaching jobs right here in Illinois," Giannoulias said.

The vote went mostly along party lines, passing 247 to 161.