By most measures, the economy is currently in bad shape; 2.5 million Americans have lost their jobs in the last two years, governments on the federal, state, and local level are facing significant budget deficits, and consumer confidence has reached a ten-year low. To stimulate the economy in the short term, Senator John Kerry (D-MA) offered an amendment to the 2004 budget resolution that would have provided $150 billion in tax cuts for middle and lower-income Americans. Furthermore, in an effort to reduce future budget deficits, the Kerry amendment would have struck from the budget resolution all other tax cuts except those proposed in his measure. Progressives supported Kerry's tax cut package as the financially-responsible alternative to Bush's plan because Kerry's amendment targeted relief for middle and lower income individuals instead of those at higher income brackets. The proposal, however, failed to generate majority support and was defeated on a 37-62 vote.