Democrats and Republicans joined forces today to pass an $18 billion jobs bill by a 68 to 29 margin. The centerpiece of the bill is a tax break for businesses that hire people who have been unemployed for at least 60 days. It may not actually produce that many jobs, relative to how many have been lost in the recession, but it’s a start, and it shows that Democrats are responsive to the electorate. “The American people sent us a message in Massachusetts and elsewhere,” Chuck Schumer said after the vote. “It was focus on jobs, the economy, helping the middle class stretch its paycheck. Our answer today: We heard you.” And now back to health-care reform. [NYT]
