Since President Barack Obama’s $447 billion jobs bill was struck down in the Senate, smaller portions of it have moved to the floor. In a 50-50 vote, senators blocked the $35 billion measure for states to hire more teachers and first responders, and prevent current ones from being laid off. The bill would have created 400,000 jobs for teachers, police officers and firefighters. It was to be paid for by a 0.5% tax increase on people earning more than $1 million a year, which Republicans opposed.
Similarly, a Republican-backed proposal to repeal a 3% withholding requirement for government contractors was blocked, due to disagreement over how to offset the costs of its elimination. As components of the jobs bill take the floor, any measure would need at least 60 votes to move forward.
