Harry Reid Wants Vote on Jobs Bill on Monday

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: Economy

(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

The Senate could vote as early as Monday on a jobs bill, even though Democrats do not have specific legislation introduced yet, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said today.

"We do believe very emphatically that we're going to be able to have a bipartisan bill on Monday," Reid said at a press conference. "If not, we're going to have one we come up with ourselves."

Democrats are holding out on unveiling the details of their plan in the hopes of winning some Republican support. The bill is likely to include a tax credit for small and medium-sized companies that hire new employees. Democrats could also specifically include a measure crafted by Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer (N.Y) and GOP Sen. Orrin Hatch (Utah) to allow companies to avoid paying Social Security taxes this year for unemployed workers they hire.

"We want to work with Republicans, and it appears to me on the jobs program they want to work with us, and we certainly are appreciative of that," Reid said.

After today's press conference, however, a spokesman for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell sent out a statement, Politico reports, saying Democrats "don't know what's in the bill or how many jobs they expect it to 'save or create,' or when anyone beyond the Beltway will see it, or how much it will cost."

The bill, however, will need at least one Republican vote to pass. Sen.-elect Scott Brown is sworn in today as the GOP's 41st senator, forcing Democrats to bring on board at least one Republican for any legislation that may be subject to a filibuster.