Reid Jobs Bill Goes to Floor Monday; Aids Employers Who Hire Illegal Aliens

Senators and Congressional aides braced Monday for the first test of Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid’s jobs bill—a cloture vote.  This vote, set for Monday evening, will determine whether the Senate can proceed with debate on the jobs bill, also called the “Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act” or HIRE Act.  At this time, reports from Capitol Hill are mixed as to whether there will be enough votes (60 are required) to pass a cloture vote.

Senator Reid introduced the HIRE Act last week hoping to focus on the issue of jobs and the economy, but disappointed immigration reformers by leaving out any mandate that jobs created by the bill go to U.S. workers. The bill has two major tax provisions, an exemption from payroll taxes for employers who hire new employees in 2010 and a $1,000 tax credit for employers who keep those employees for at least 52 weeks. Unfortunately, the bill does not require that these new workers be legal or that employers use E-Verify to confirm their work authorization.  Moreover, Congressional staffers have confirmed that Senator Reid has already invoked a procedural maneuver that blocks any and all amendments to the bill.

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