$ 15 billion jobs bill passes Senate 70-28
13 Republicans and two Independents cross the aisle
Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D), hailed it as “investing in America.” After a 70-28 vote in the Senate, the $ 15 billion Democratic jobs bill to stimulate job creation has passed with 55 Democrats, 13 Republicans and two Independents saying yes. Considering just how far the American workforce and their pay day loans have to come, that $ 15 billion is considered to be “modest in scope,” as the New York Times puts it.
What is it that the jobs bill supposed to do anyway?
Fox News had previously shown the parts of the $ 15 billion bill as $ 13 billion in payroll tax breaks for employers who hire employees for over 60 days, $ 35 million for “small business depreciation,” a highway bill extension, and $ 2 billion in infrastructure bonds.
The bipartisan support might mean the bill will quickly pass through the House
This is turn would mean that the jobs bill gets to the president’s desk quickly. The best thing to perk the economy up is for people to be employed, and the jobs bill comes at a fortuitous moment when a lot of people are out of work.
Newly elected Republican Senator Scott Brown of Massachusetts – a man who has attracted no small amount of controversy – was vital to the process of pushing the jobs bill through the Senate. He acknowledges the jobs bill isn’t perfect, but understands its importance in getting some of the unemployed back to work. But if the House sends through a version “full of pork, waste, fraud and abuse,” Brown told the Times he’d vote against it. That’s almost the sort of “Progressive Republican” that drives Glenn Beck insane, or rather more insane.
Harry Reid is happy about the result
“We have a jobs agenda, not a jobs bill,” the Senate majority leader told the media. “We’re going to have more votes, and create more jobs.”
At this point, any opportunity – from astrophysicist to payday lender – is a good opportunity.