Today the Senate approved a jobs bill which Congressional Democrats hope will be the first in a series of bills spurring employment by providing tax breaks and other hiring incentives to businesses. According to the New York Times, the bill will now be sent to President Obama to be signed.
Eleven Republicans voted for the measure, showing that this is at least one issue that won’t be a victim of partisan stubbornness. The bill, approved with a vote of 68 to 29, would give employers an exemption from payroll taxes through the end of 2010 on workers they hire who have been unemployed for at least 60 days. It also extends the federal highway construction program and takes other steps to boost public building projects.
Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York praised the Republicans who voted for the bill, calling it “a legislative dream.”
“Today is really a turning point,” Schumer said. “And there are two words that symbolize it – jobs and bipartisan. The American people sent us a message in Massachusetts and elsewhere. It was focus on jobs, the economy, helping the middle class stretch its paycheck. Our answer today: We heard you.”
Democrats now intend to push ahead with renewing more than $30 billion in corporate tax breaks and providing additional aid to small businesses. But will this cooperative attitude extend to health care? Color me skeptical.
