Senate Passes $15 billion "jobs" bill

The bill passed 70 to 28, with 13 Republicans and 57 Democrats voting in favor of the package. One Democrat, Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska, voted against it. This is the same Ben "bandit" Nelson that assured his vote on the healthcare reform bill for a cool $100 million.

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.

The bill, however, does not extend the deadline to apply for unemployment benefits and the COBRA health insurance subsidy. The House, in passing its $154 billion bill last year, included $79 billion in funding to extend unemployment benefits and a COBRA extension.

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



AND HOW IS THIS GOING TO PAID FOR??????