Senate Jobs Bill

Senate Jobs Bill
Washington
In a surprise move, five Republicans broke with party leaders on Monday to transfer $ 15 billion and function of law to the Senate.
It's the first vote on the bill since the major Republican Scott Brown became a member of the Senate, which means that it lost in the Senate, Democrats the 60 votes needed to stop the Republican obstruction. In the end, they do not need to have a group of sounds. This step to allow for discussion on the approval of the draft law, 62 even 30.

The Senate bill gives a one-year social security tax cuts for companies that hire unemployed workers, and it allows for small businesses and write off up to $ 250,000 of equipment purchased.

Brown, a senator from Massachusetts, and the Republican Party a crucial vote 41st, voted with the Democrats. "I came to Washington to be an independent voice, to put politics aside and do everything in my power to help create jobs for the families of Massachusetts," said in a statement.

"This is a job in the Senate bill is not perfect," adding "I wish the tax cuts were deeper and wider, but I voted for it because it contains measures that will help get people back to work."

Republican Sen. Christopher Bond, George Voinovich of Ohio, Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, both of Maine, voted with him.

"The American people want to see Washington aside partisan differences and make progress on the job, and today in the Senate, an important step forward in doing so and said," Obama said in a statement after the vote in the early evening.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, angry senators on both sides of the aisle, when they withdrew from the $ 85 billion bipartisan bill employment on February 11 for his benefit, a smaller version. And Republican leaders argued that Senator Reid was to deny Republicans a voice in the draft law by preventing the amendments.

But in the end, the likelihood of voting against the bill is directed to the major concern for most Americans - jobs and the economy - has proved a lot of Republican centrist.

"We had to move forward," said Senator Snowe, who received assurances from Democratic leaders that more would be done to help small businesses. "We overcome the procedural hurdles, and we hope specify a different path," she said.

In the last week in the recess was a factor in changing the votes, Democrats say. "Senators were in their homes for a week. They did not see Democrats or Republicans that are in trouble, but the American people in trouble. And they want us to work on jobs and the economy," said Sen. Amy Klobuchar (d) of Minnesota.

In a speech before the vote on Monday, Reid said, in the Senate, "This is not a job last bill and we're going to bring it into the ground." He predicted that the bill will provide 1 million jobs - "thousands of them in Nevada," where the majority leader faces a tough race for re-election in November.

Next, they will move quickly in the Senate a bill to encourage travel, then legislation to extend expiring tax cuts and unemployment insurance, he said.

"We can not do it alone," he added. "My friends on the other side of the aisle share this responsibility. When I had 60 votes, all responsibility was mine. It is not that way. We are down to 59."