After a final public push by President Obama in which he told a crowd of union workers that Tuesday’s vote would be a “moment of truth for the U.S. Senate”, Senate Republicans and two conservative Senate Democrats have blocked the passage of the American Jobs Act.  The $447billion plan, to be paid for by tax increases for the nation’s wealthiest, received widespread support from Democrats but did not gain enough votes to overcome a Republican filibuster.

“Today is the day when every American will find out exactly where their senator stands on this jobs bill,” Obama said in his remarks prior to the Senate vote.  “This is gut-check time. Any senator that votes no should have to look you in the eye and tell you what they’re opposed to,” he said, adding later, “I think they’ll have a hard time explaining why they voted no on this bill, other than that I proposed it.”

Individual elements of the American Jobs Act are expected to be put to the Senate in the coming weeks.  The AP has additional details on the Senate vote.  Meanwhile, the White House is calling out the GOP on their lack of alternate plans for addressing our unemployment crisis.