Politics

Senate Breaks Filibuster on HIRE Act

By Sunlight Foundation & Participatory Politics Foundation

For a second time, the Senate is expected to vote on an $18 billion jobs bill known as the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment, or HIRE, Act (H.R.2847).

The HIRE Act provides businesses that hire unemployed workers for a year with a $1,000 tax credit and exempts employers from the Social Security payroll tax for hiring workers this year. The measure also extends federal funding for state and local highway programs and extends the Build America Bonds program.

The Senate yesterday voted 61-30 to break a filibuster of the bill. Six Republicans voted for cloture: Sen. Kit Bond [R, Mo], Sen. Scott Brown [R,MA], Sen. Richard Burr [R, NC], Sen. Susan Collins [R, ME], Sen. James Inhofe [R, OK] and Sen. Olympia Snowe [R, ME]. One Democrat, Sen. Ben Nelson [D, NE] voted against cloture.

A previous version of the HIRE Act passed by the Senate last month was altered by the House to conform with 'pay-go' budget rules. A vote on this new version is expected in the Senate tomorrow.

Full post as published by Open Congress on March 17, 2010 (boomark / email).