Senate Passes Jobs Bill

The U.S. Senate passed a $17.6 billion jobs bill today by a 68-29 vote, sending it to the White House for the President's signature. "The bill includes a payroll tax break for small businesses and highway funding designed to spur job growth," according to Politico.

Senators Kit Bond and Claire McCaskill voted for passage.  Representatives Todd Akin, Roy Blunt, Emanuel Cleaver, Lacy Clay, Jo Ann Emerson, Sam Graves and Blaine Luetkemeyer voted against the legislation in the House.  The Congressional Black Caucus argued that the package was too small; Roy Blunt argued the package was simultaneously too small and too big.