Democratic jobs bill clears GOP filibuster, Scott Brown provides momentum

[spookyturtle 9,466]

A bipartisan jobs bill cleared a GOP filibuster on Monday with critical momentum provided by the Senate's newest Republican, Scott Brown of Massachusetts.

The 62-30 tally to advance the measure to a final vote on Wednesday gives both President Barack Obama and Capitol Hill Democrats a much-needed victory — even though the measure in question is likely to have only a modest boost on hiring.

Brown and four other Republicans broke with GOP leaders to advance the measure. Most other Republicans opposed the bill because Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada stripped out provisions they had sought and wouldn't allow them to try to restore them.

The bill featured four provisions that enjoyed sweeping bipartisan support, including a measure exempting businesses hiring the unemployed from Social Security payroll taxes through December and giving them another $1,000 credit if new workers stay on the job a full year.

Though employers seldom make hiring decisions based on tax breaks, economist Mark Zandi says the measure could potentially create 250,000 new private-sector jobs. That's less than 4 percent of the 8.4 million jobs lost in the recession.

Joining Brown in voting to break the filibuster were two moderate New England Republicans, Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine, and two retiring GOP senators, Kit Bond of Missouri and George Voinovich of Ohio. Democrat Ben Nelson of Nebraska voted "nay" and Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., was absent.

Reid's bill is a far smaller measure than Obama's $862 billion economic stimulus bill enacted a year ago. It's also significantly smaller than a rival bipartisan bill unveiled earlier this month by two senior senators.

‘This Senate jobs bill is not perfect’

The legislation also would renew highway programs through December and deposit $20 billion in the highway trust fund.

"I came to Washington to be an independent voice, to put politics aside and to do everything in my power to help create jobs for Massachusetts families," said Brown, whose election last month gave Republicans the 41st vote that could sustain GOP filibusters. "This Senate jobs bill is not perfect ... but I voted for it because it contains measures that will help put people back to work."

Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, said he voted for the bill because the highway spending will create jobs and help states pay for important projects.

"If we don't do this we're going to miss the construction season, and this is an area where you absolutely create jobs," Voinovich said.

After the vote, Obama thanked the Senate. "The American people want to see Washington put aside partisan differences and make progress on jobs, and today the Senate took one important step forward in doing that," Obama said, adding that more needs to be done.

Among Obama's proposals to boost the economy are a $250 payment to Social Security recipients, $25 billion to help cash-strapped states and $30 billion in Wall Street bailout money redirected to help community banks lend to small businesses.

"It's a good first step," Obama senior adviser David Axelrod said. "There's no doubt we need to do more."

Bill would extend small business tax break

Republicans and some Democrats were unhappy that Reid abruptly dumped about $70 billion worth of tax breaks for businesses and individuals, help for the unemployed and additional Medicare payments to doctors from a compromise measure unveiled earlier this month by Sens. Max Baucus, D-Mont., and Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, the chairman and ranking Republican on the Finance Committee.

In addition to the hiring tax incentives and highway funding, the bill would extend a tax break for small businesses buying new equipment and modestly expand an initiative that helps state and local governments finance infrastructure projects.

The larger Finance panel bill included about $33 billion in popular tax breaks, including an income tax deduction for sales and property taxes and a business tax credit for research and development, would be extended through 2010. Those ideas have sweeping support among lawmakers and have been routinely renewed for years.

Business groups and economist Zandi of Moody's Economy.com say companies are unlikely to hire workers just to receive a tax break. That means most of the tax benefits would go to companies that would have hired new workers anyway.

"Obviously it's not very efficient," Zandi said. "It's something worthwhile doing as an insurance policy but it's something one would want to do in any other circumstance."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35528082/ns/po...s-capitol_hill/

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Great Lincoln's mullet!

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Great Lincoln's mullet!

I'm glad to see that he voted for what he felt was best, not the party line. Let's hope it continues and that we get more politicians that actually look out for us, not the party. There will never be total agreement and you can never make everyone happy, but there has to be some middle ground on these important issues. You can't say yes to everything nor can you say no just because it is the opposing parties idea. What the Republicans have done for the past year is idiotic.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Must be nice to make your own credit limit!

[Pooky 3,791]

I'm glad to see that he voted for what he felt was best, not the party line. Let's hope it continues and that we get more politicians that actually look out for us, not the party. There will never be total agreement and you can never make everyone happy, but there has to be some middle ground on these important issues. You can't say yes to everything nor can you say no just because it is the opposing parties idea. What the Republicans have done for the past year is idiotic.

And the Democrats are no better. What's the common factor at play?

They're all politicians!

[spookyturtle 9,466]

And the Democrats are no better. What's the common factor at play?

They're all politicians!

The Republicans have said no to everything for 12 months. Ridiculous. They need to make some input.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I'm glad to see that he voted for what he felt was best, not the party line.

The teabaggers will be deriding Brown as a RINO by the end of 2010. He's a classic New England Republican. That's a guarantee.

I just went on Free Republic to see what the freaks are saying about this. I was right. He's entered RINO-territory as far as they're concerned.

[Pooky 3,791]

The Republicans have said no to everything for 12 months. Ridiculous. They need to make some input.

Both sides need to work at this bipartisan thing. The Republicans need to have some input (and the Democrats need to listen) and the Democrats need to try inviting Republican input with at least some openness to listening,rather than just paying lip service and them doing what they wanted to do all along anyway.

Neither side in this mess is even the least bit innocent of feeding the problem.

Good on Scott Brown. Now let's find out if the Democrats in Congress will take appreciate his support, or take it for granted and try to use him. The Democrats on here already are, after trying to deride him when he got elected. Now he's the great Mass Rino. How quickly things change.

[scandal 951]

Joining Brown in voting to break the filibuster were two moderate New England Republicans, Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine, and two retiring GOP senators, Kit Bond of Missouri and George Voinovich of Ohio. Democrat Ben Nelson of Nebraska voted "nay" and Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., was absent.

Lautenberg is sick with recently diagnosed stomach cancer. Refuah shlema (may he heal quickly).

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I just went on Free Republic to see what the freaks are saying about this. I was right. He's entered RINO-territory as far as they're concerned.

There goes their bible tent revival.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

There goes their bible tent revival.

Can I borrow your credit card?

[scandal 951]

Can I borrow your credit card?

Here, have a dime. Go buy yourself a cup of coffee.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Here, have a dime. Go buy yourself a cup of coffee.

Fvckin rethuglicans!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Here, have a dime. Go buy yourself a cup of coffee.

and a banana...

[Peikko 1,575]

Both sides need to work at this bipartisan thing. The Republicans need to have some input (and the Democrats need to listen) and the Democrats need to try inviting Republican input with at least some openness to listening,rather than just paying lip service and them doing what they wanted to do all along anyway.

Neither side in this mess is even the least bit innocent of feeding the problem.

Good on Scott Brown. Now let's find out if the Democrats in Congress will take appreciate his support, or take it for granted and try to use him. The Democrats on here already are, after trying to deride him when he got elected. Now he's the great Mass Rino. How quickly things change.

Exactly