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Democratic jobs bill advances past GOP filibuster Posted on 2/23/2010
A bipartisan jobs bill cleared a GOP filibuster on Monday.
The Senate voted 62-30 to advance the measure to a final vote on Wednesday.
The Senate's newest Republican, Scott Brown, R-MA, and 4 other Republicans broke with GOP leaders to advance the measure.
Sen. Brown Comments Sen. Brown said, "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."
Brown said, "This Senate jobs bill is not perfect ... but I voted for it because it contains measures that will help put people back to work."
The vote gives both President Barack Obama and Capitol Hill Democrats a much-needed victory.
Republicans Voting Yea Joining Sen. Brown to break the filibuster were Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-ME, and Sen. Susan Collins, R-ME, Sen. Kit Bond, R-MO, and Sen. George Voinovich, R-OH.
Sen. Voinovich Comments Sen. Voinovich said he voted for the bill because the highway spending will create jobs and help states pay for important projects.
Voinovich said, "If we don't do this we're going to miss the construction season, and this is an area where you absolutely create jobs."
Sen. Nelson Votes No Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska voted "nay."
Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-NJ, was absent.
President Obama Comments President Obama said in a statement, "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, "I'm grateful to the Democratic and Republican senators who voted to support these investments in infrastructure and small businesses."
He said, "I look forward to working with members from both parties to get legislation signed, and the American people back to work."
Sen. Reid Comments Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-NV, said after the vote, "I hope this is the beginning of a new day in the Senate."
Sen. Boxer Comments Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-CA, said, "Today jobs triumphed over politics."
Sen. Whitehouse Comments Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-RI, after the vote, "I think continuing to force votes is the prerogative of the majority. Whether to let them through is the prerogative of a minority that controls 41 votes, and we have to make those choices clear."
4 Provisions The bill featured 4 provisions 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.
The legislation also would renew highway programs through December and deposit $20 billion in the highway trust fund.
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.
New Jobs Economist Mark Zandi of Moody's Economy.com says the measure could potentially create 250,000 new private-sector jobs.
