The $15 billion bill is dwarfed by other Congressional initiatives, like the $789 billion stimulus bill, but that doesn't make the principle of its passage any less despicable. It includes the temporary elimination of payroll taxes for businesses that hire unemployed workers, and a tax credit of $1,000 if those businesses retain those employees. It also includes other minor tax cuts, and increased spending on infrastructure and energy development.
Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson was one of the only ones who wanted Congress to pay for the jobs bill before passing it. But his concerns went the way they usually go on Capitol Hill -- into the dustbin.
I like the statement from Rep. Tom Price (R-GA):
Those who claim this will encourage job creation clearly don’t understand what goes into a hiring decision in the private sector. Any company that can't afford to hire today still won't be able to hire if this bill becomes law. Calling this a 'jobs' bill is pure fraud.
...This bill won’t convince wary employers to suddenly start hiring. It simply hands taxpayer money to businesses which were already going to hire anyway. ...You can't tax Americans back to prosperity. It’s just that simple.