They Voted For You: Jobs

U.S. Sens. Robert C. Byrd and Jay Rockefeller, both D-W.Va., voted for legislation that The Associated Press described as "blending highway funding eagerly sought by the states with tax breaks for companies that hire unemployed workers."

"The bipartisan 70-28 vote to pass the bill sends it to the House, where many Democrats say it is too puny," the article said.

AP reports that the measure contains two key provisions.

"It would exempt businesses hiring the unemployed from the 6.2 percent Social Security payroll tax through December and give them an additional $1,000 credit if new workers stay on the job a full year," the article said. "Second, it would extend highway and mass transit programs through the end of the year and pump $20 billion into them in time for the spring construction season."

The vote on passage follows a roll call that ended a GOP-led filibuster of the bill, AP reported earlier.