They Voted for You: Jobs

U.S. Sens. Robert C. Byrd and Jay Rockefeller, both D-W.Va., helped overcome a GOP-led filibuster to allow a full Senate vote on jobs-related legislation.

The 62-30 vote advanced what The Associated Press called a "bipartisan jobs bill" that is far smaller in scope than either last year's stimulus legislation or "a rival bipartisan bill unveiled earlier this month by two senior senators."

The bill that cleared the filibuster "featured four provisions that enjoyed sweeping bipartisan support, including a measure exempting businesses hiring the unemployed from Social Security payroll taxes through December and giving them another $1,000 credit if new workers stay on the job a full year," the article said. "The legislation also would renew highway programs through December and deposit $20 billion in the highway trust fund."