Senate passes $15 billion jobs bill on bipartisan vote (70 to 28)

[kpete]

Source: Washington Post

Senate passes $15 billion jobs bill on bipartisan vote

By Ben Pershing
Wednesday, February 24, 2010; 10:57 AM

The Senate easily passed a $15 billion jobs bill on Wednesday morning amid hope that the measure could provide a blueprint for other items on President Obama's agenda.

The measure passed 70 to 28, with 13 Republicans joining 57 Democrats in support of the package. One Democrat, Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska, voted against it.

"We've had so much gridlock," said Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), co-author of a key portion of the bill. Now, he said, "finally we have something" bipartisan to show the public.

The legislation is the first element of what Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) has said will be a multipart "jobs agenda." The measure includes a new program that would give companies a break from paying Social Security taxes on new employees for the remainder of 2010. It also carries a one-year extension of the Highway Trust Fund, an expansion of the Build America Bonds program and a provision to allow companies to write off equipment purchases.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/24/AR2010022402258.html?hpid=topnews

[Zoeisright]

1. So 28 repukes don't want Americans to have jobs, apparently.

This should be the main point for anyone campaigning against them.

[Mumblefratz]

4. It shouldn't be a suprise that

28 Republicans voted against the bill. That's what Republicans do and most certainly this is a good point for anyone running against any of these folks to bring up.

However I'm pleased by the fact that at least some Republicans voted *for* the measure and thereby deserve at least some small mention even if the reason they did it was because it was in their own best interests. At least a few of them have become rational enough to do what's best for the country instead of opposing everything simply to make Democrats look bad.

This is the first sign of rationality that I've seen from *any* Republican for quite some time, even if it is only a few.

[Blecht]

2. Any jobs bill is better than no jobs bill

But I'm sick of this country always treating big business to the carrot -- I would prefer a bit more of the stick.

Why not allow big business to keep some of their already huge pile of tax breaks if they make new hires, and lose some if they don't? That would remove some of the burden from the rest of us. After all, WE are paying for it in this bill, while big business gets yet another break while gaining people desperate to work.

Big business never compromises -- they only take take take.

[SandWalker1984]

3. True. But how much did they spend on TARP?

Guess that tells us Congress's priorities. Wall street definitely comes in way ahead of Main street.

[4lbs]

11. It still might be better for some businesses to forego the tax breaks and incentives and hire

or outsource to foreign workers anyway.

If a job normally pays $48,000 a year + benefits to a local worker in the U.S., and they can hire one in another country for $24,000 with NO benefits, then they save at least $24,000 a year for that job.

So, the tax break/incentive must be worth close to that amount for them to hire locally, or else they'll still hire foreign.

What do I mean by 'benefits'? Typically health care, paid vacation, paid sick leave, etc.

In a large company, one can multiply that by 1000, with all the news of companies shedding 1000 jobs and shipping them elsewhere. Add in the savings for not having to pay benefits to foreign workers, and you are looking at a $30 million savings in labor costs for shipping 1000 jobs elsewhere. That company would need to see $30 million in tax incentives and breaks to keep those 1000 jobs here.

Another thing that they can do is re-hire that $48,000 worker for $36,000 and no benefits. Then they get that tax break or incentive plus a worker at a cheaper cost. Hopefully that jobs bill guards against that. I hope there's a provision that makes them hire at fair market value with benefits to get those breaks and incentives.

[DallasNE]

5. The Filibuster Only Had 5 Republican Votes

Who are the 8 Repubicans that voted to kill the bill before voting to pass the bill?

[Uncle Joe]

6. There seems to be a hell of a big difference between this and the House Bill.

<snip>

"The next stop is the House, where Democratic leaders are weighing whether to pass the Senate version or go to conference to reconcile it with the $154 billion jobs bill the House passed in December."

<snip>

Thanks for the thread, kpete.

[4lbs]

15. The Senate just mostly broke up the big bill into a bunch of smaller pieces and is passing them one

at a time.

It's easier for the GOP Senate bloc to swallow $15 billion bitter pills spread out than it is a single whopping $150 billion one.

[proudohioan]

7. You know, I hate to look a gift horse in the mouth here,

but the article reads more like a "Who's Who in Politics" more than anything else.

Honestly, is the goal of the jobs bill simply to "have something bipartisan to show the public"? Cuz that's how it's sounding to me.

Where are the actual details about the bill? IMO, that's what's important. Save the list of names for another venue.

[ThisThreadIsSatire]

8. I want the eight who supported a filibuster....

and then voted for the bill to explain again how they're not obstructionists...

[KingOfLostSouls]

9. What was the count on the repukes side?

who voted "NO!"



time to start making their lives a living hell.

[Earth Bound Misfit]

10. Wow! A WHOLE $15 Billion?

Forgive me for not doing cartwheels. I'm sure the "bipartisan" angle will get LOTS of attention from M$M.

:-(

[4lbs]

13. Did you miss where it said "first of a multi-part" process?

Instead of trying to pass a $60 or $75 billion bill, and probably failing, they're doing it $15 billion at a time and succeeding.

It's the old 'turn up the heat slowly on that frog in the pot of water'. The GOP is the frog.

Expect 3 or 4 more of these this year, each about $15 billion.

[Hugin]

12. I would prefer a non-partisan jobs bill...

Because, quite frankly, these bipartisan bills scare the crap out of me.

[AlphaCentauri]

16. It's election year, every one wants to look good

[AlphaCentauri]

14. Wish those 15 billions could go to the packets of the working class

but its good to have incentives to revitalize the economy.