Brown, GOP Moderates Help $15B Jobs Bill Advance

A bipartisan jobs bill cleared a GOP filibuster today with crucial momentum provided by the Senate's newest Republican, Scott Brown of Massachusetts. The 62-30 vote to advance the measure to a final vote Wednesday gives both President Obama and Capitol Hill Democrats a much-needed victory—even though the $15 billion bill is likely to have only a modest boost on hiring.

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. One economist estimates 250,000 private-sector jobs could be created—less than 4% of the 8.4 million jobs lost in the recession.
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