Senate Passes Jobs Bill

In a filibuster-breaking 61-39 vote, the Senate on Thursday passed a bill which included $10 billion to prevent or delay up to 300,000 layoffs nationwide. The jobs saved are those of public workers, most notably teachers and police. Dozens of school districts nationwide have been counting on their share of the money, which has been tied up in the Senate for months as Republicans argued it was fiscally irresponsible to spend billions with the budget deficit already at record levels.

In order to gain the necessary votes Republican votes, Democrats in the Senate opted to make cuts to the food stamps program and to hike taxes on some corporations.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is expected to convene the House next week to vote on the bill and presumably get it to the President’s desk.