House Democrats plan to move a $75 billion jobs bill before they leave for holiday break

[babylonsister]

House eyes jobs bill, $300B debt hike
By Walter Alarkon - 12/15/09 12:36 PM ET


House Democrats plan to move a $75 billion jobs bill before they leave for the holiday break.

The House also plans separate votes this week on a short-term, $300 billion debt limit increase and the Defense appropriations bill, the last of 12 annual spending bills yet to be cleared by Congress. Democrats had planned on moving a much larger increase of the debt limit, but put aside those plans after objections from centrists.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said the jobs bill would include money for infrastructure projects and state and local governments struggling to avoid layoffs of teachers and other public workers.

Hoyer cautioned that the $75 billion price tag for the jobs bill isn’t finalized, and added it would include more money for infrastructure than fiscal aid. He said the bill would hit the floor within the next few days.

The jobs bill will be fully paid for with funds from the $700 billion bailout of the financial industry, Hoyer said. That reflects the new focus of House Democrats as they head into an election year.

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http://thehill.com/homenews/house/72317-house-to-move-jobs-bill-300b-increase-to-debt-limit