In time for Veterans day, the Senate made the unanimous decision to pass a bill that would help unemployed veterans seeking jobs. It is the only piece of Obama’s jobs package to make it out of the chamber so far. The bill will be taken up by the House next week, where it is expected to pass. According to lawmakers, the bill would reduce federal deficits by $2 billion over the next decade. It gives tax credits to employers for hiring veterans unemployed longer than six months, and greater tax credits for hiring long-unemployed disabled veterans.
“The bills won’t solve our jobs crisis,” said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. “But this attempt at bipartisanship has been used to help get them over the finish line and represents our best shot at making progress on jobs in the economy.” The unemployment rate for veterans in October was 12.1%, higher than the national average of 9%.
