Senate takes up jobs bill

[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i.l.cnn.net/cnn/2007/POLITICS/12/26/senate.pro.forma/art.cap.dome.gi.jpg caption="he Senate voted to push forward a $15 billion jobs creation bill that would give businesses a tax break for hiring the unemployed."]

Tami Luhby
CNN Money

The Senate voted Monday to push forward a $15 billion jobs creation bill that would give businesses a tax break for hiring the unemployed.

Five Republicans - including newly elected Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass. - reached across the aisle to approve the procedural measure, which passed by a 62-30 vote. One Democrat did not support it. A final vote on the bill should take place in a few days.

The 4-prong bill would:

*Exempt employers from Social Security payroll taxes on new hires who were unemployed;

*Fund highway and transit programs through 2010;

*Extend a tax break for business that spend money on capital investments like equipment purchases;

*Expand the use of the Build America Bonds program, which helps states and municipalities fund capital construction projects.

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