The top Republican in the Senate said Sunday that GOP lawmakers "may well" vote for a jobs bill this week.Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., prefers a costlier version drafted with GOP input and he didn't commit his support to advance the legislation on Monday to a final vote this coming week.
The pending measure would provide businesses that hire the unemployed a one-year break from payroll taxes and a $1,000 tax credit if those workers stay on the job for a full year. The cost is estimated at $13 billion.
The measure would extend a tax break for small businesses buying new equipment, provide a $20 billion infusion of highway and transit money, and help states and local governments finance big public works projects.
Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., upset Republicans this month when he scrapped a bipartisan measure that had many more proposals that weren't directly aimed at boosting job growth.
Reid dumped business tax breaks and other items on wish lists sought by lobbyists. But he also took out provisions to extend unemployment insurance for the long-term jobless and health insurance subsidies for the unemployed that expire on Feb. 28.