Senate Moves One Step Closer to Passing Hiring Tax Credits
The Senate this evening took a long stride toward (finally) passing an $18 billion proposal designed to tackle the nation’s jobs crisis, voting to end debate on a bill granting tax credits to businesses that hire unemployed workers. The vote was 61 to 30 to block a GOP filibuster. Six Republican senators —
It marks the second time around for the so-called HIRE Act. The Senate last month passed a similar measure, only to have moderate House Democrats balk because the entire cost wasn’t offset elsewhere in the budget. House lawmakers tweaked the proposal to include that pay-for, and the new version is what the Senate is considering now.
Today’s cloture vote blocks a GOP filibuster by limiting debate on the bill to 30 hours. Republicans, though, are threatening not to allow Democrats to count the hours after adjournment tonight toward the 30-hour clock, setting the stage for a possible all-night session. That would put the final vote somewhere near midnight Tuesday, though Democratic leaders are hoping that a deal can be worked out beforehand to stage the vote sooner.
