Government

Senate Approves Jobs Benefits for Veterans

WASHINGTON (The Blaze/AP) — On Veterans Day eve, an uncharacteristically unified Senate emphatically passed a bill to help unemployed veterans and government contractors that includes the first, small slivers of President Barack Obama’s jobs agenda that he is likely to sign into law.

Thursday’s 95-0 vote gave lawmakers the opportunity to fly home to holiday events and boast about helping veterans and protecting jobs. But it did little to help close the scorching partisan divide over how to revive the gasping economy, an issue that seems sure to decide next year’s presidential and congressional elections.

“We deal with a lot of contentious issues here, but this should not be one of them,” said Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., a leading sponsor of the veterans’ provisions.

The legislation would award tax credits of up to $9,600 to companies that hire disabled veterans who have been job-hunting for at least half a year and strengthen employment counseling and training programs for vets and troops about to leave the military.

It also would erase a law, yet to take effect, requiring federal, state and local government agencies to withhold 3 percent of their payments to companies with which they conduct business. That law was enacted under President George W. Bush to nudge companies to fully pay their taxes, but lawmakers now say it would fence off money those firms could better use to hire more workers.

The House is expected to approve the bill resoundingly next week, which would send it to Obama.

The president’s signature would make the veterans tax credits the first fragment of his $447 billion jobs package to be enacted. Those tax credits would cost $90 million over the next decade, according to White House estimates. Obama also has supported annulling the withholding requirement on contractors’ payments.

The rest of the president’s jobs plan, which is highlighted by payroll tax cuts and money for infrastructure projects and hiring teachers and police officers, has foundered. A senior administration official told reporters that the White House will pressure Republicans over the president‘s proposal to extend this year’s cut in the 6.2 percent Social Security payroll tax cut through 2012, arguing that without a renewal people’s taxes would rise next year.

There are about 240,000 unemployed veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, around 12 percent of those who served there, the White House says. A total of 850,000 veterans overall are out of work, and 1 million additional service members are expected to return to civilian life by 2016, according to White House data.

“No veteran who fought for our nation should have to fight for a job when they come home,” Obama said in a written statement after the vote that also called on Congress to approve additional jobs proposals.

That didn‘t stop both parties from seeking political advantage in Thursday’s vote.

Knowing they faced certain defeat in the Democratic-led chamber, Republicans nonetheless tried amending the bill with a giant package they said would create jobs by cutting income tax rates, repealing Obama’s health care overhaul and blocking or annulling many labor, energy and environmental regulations. It was rejected by a near party-line 56-40 tally, but it created an opportunity for the GOP to demonstrate its formula for healing the economy.

Before the day’s votes, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., sarcastically congratulated Democrats for “doing something we haven’t been doing enough of around here. We’re going to legislate.“ He said Democrats usually spend their time ”trying to make Republicans look bad.”

At the same time, Obama’s campaign emailed supporters, urging them to pressure lawmakers to vote for the measure.

“Members of Congress will have two clear options to choose from: Do something to create jobs for veterans returning from overseas, or do nothing,” the email said.

Outside groups also vied for attention. The Association of American Railroads said one-fifth of the railway workers hired this year were expected to be veterans, while the trade group Associated Builders and Contractors said repealing the withholding law would remove uncertainty clouding long-term planning by construction companies.

Economists say repealing the withholding requirement would have an imperceptible, if any, impact on jobs.

Beyond increasing to $9,600 the tax credit for hiring disabled veterans, the bill also would create new tax credits of up to $5,600 for employers hiring veterans who have job hunted at least half a year and $2,400 for those out of work for four weeks or more.

In addition, it would expand education and job training benefits for veterans, improve employment counseling they receive while still in the military and provide an extra year of job services for disabled veterans.

“This bill is a win for the economy and the right thing to do for our veterans,” said Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., a long-time sponsor of tax credits for vets.

Overall, the tax breaks and jobs programs for veterans would cost just over $1 billion, Democratic aides said. It would be paid for by extending a fee the Veterans Affairs Department charges to back home loans.

Annulling the withholding law would cost the government $11.2 billion over the next decade. The legislation makes up the lost revenue by making it harder for some Social Security beneficiaries to qualify for Medicaid, the federal-state health program for low-income people.

Comments (35)

  • Joshua7
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 12:52pm

    The idea that the American people need to be bribed to do the right thing is stupid. Who wouldn’t want to give a job to a vet?

    It is legislation like this that makes the tax code so freaking complicated right now.

    Report Post » Joshua7  
    • Bill Rowland
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 3:37pm

      Obumbler took credit for the bill this morning during his Veterans Day speech . Again it was I did this, I voted on it, I passed it, Michelle and I wrote the bill I,I,I

      OMG

      Report Post »  
  • NC
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 12:15pm

    As a disabled (unemployed) vietnam era vet, I’m against this legislation. I’m also against any restrictions or penalties or even tax breaks for private business in hiring employees. The time for the EEOC has come and gone.

    Let the private business hire whomever they wish w/o the fear of being sued because their employee was not tall enough, short enough, black enough, muslim enough, gay enough, red-head enough, handicapped enough, poor enough, educated enough…

    Get the gubment out of the private business’s hiring choices.

    NC (thanks dad for your service, I wish I could have told you again while you were alive)

    Report Post » NC  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 12:31pm

      I agree 100%. Laws that favor one segement of the population over others is wrong. When the government offers $9k tax incentives to companies to hire vets, they are in effect offering $9k tax incentives to companies to NOT hire regular citizens.

      Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
    • VeteranUS one each
      Posted on November 12, 2011 at 8:15am

      I hear you brother.

      Report Post »  
  • your sensei
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 9:25am

    You people are right, F the vets. You fought the update of the GI Bill. You let Water Reed turn into a moldy rat’s nest. You voted against raises for combat pay. I’m with you, I say strew ‘em. What did they ever do for us? Bunch of whiney babies with their hands out all the time. Pathetic. No wonder American corporations are sitting on $2 trillion. I certainly won‘t invest in new biz development as log as I’m getting an incentive to hire the heroes who defend our way of lie. That’s socialist!

    God save America from the Tea Buggerers.

    Report Post » your sensei  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 12:29pm

      You clearly wish for a legal system that favors one class over another. That is the antithesis of how the American legal system is supposed to work.

      Curious, are you actually a citizen of these united States, or do you hail from another nation? You don’t seem terribly familiar, here or on other threads, with the customs and culture of these united States is why I ask.

      Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
  • lukerw
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 8:18am

    As a Vet… I say… go and try to Buy someone else’s Vote!

    Report Post » lukerw  
    • Joshua7
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 12:47pm

      Well put, good sir.

      Report Post » Joshua7  
    • VeteranUS one each
      Posted on November 12, 2011 at 8:18am

      All that dramatic presentation on Veterans Day; they had the power to do this for eons, and just happened to get it done on 11/11/11.

      Smells like barnyard effluent to me.

      Report Post »  
  • doctroprint
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 2:21am

    Im not a word smith so excuse me please and try to fill in the holes with your thoughts.
    First I admire veterans every bit as much as my family. God bless their service and their
    (most cant comprehend) sacrifice..( and my soninlaw has served in both theaters in the mideast).
    But thinking about it, an employer can be punished for purposely hiring: a white over black, male over female, straight vs gay, slim vs fat and on and on ect. Does this not give reward to such employer to
    do the same damn thing and it is gifted and driven by the Federal Gubberment. In my eyes this again is the law upside down. There honestly is no rule of law anymore….it’s ok as long as the king says its ok……I will no longer pay taxes to support this ****..

    Report Post » doctroprint  
  • imahappy123
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 1:16am

    I am so totally tired of DEMS and GOP games. Let the elitist Government eat cake.

    Report Post » imahappy123  
  • GoingBeck
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 11:52pm

    Seems rather pathetic that politicians think employers have to be bribed to hire veterans. Wonder how much of this money is going to end up in labor union coffers, and indirectly in to Democrat campaign war chests.

    Report Post »  
  • garyM
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 11:01pm

    I guess than means the Senate has approved Obama ending the war by December right, we haven’t heard that, backroom agreement I guess. Maybe they know something we don’t. I’m incline to believe they do, I think the troops are coming home for a specific reason that they are not talking about!

    Report Post »  
  • garyM
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 10:57pm

    There is many jobs out there, truck driver jobs are wide open, mechanics, painters, construction. A good honest guy who would go around his neighborhood no matter where he lived could get work raking leaves or odd jobs, problem is no one wants to do many jobs. The vets deserve a good job after the sacrifice they have made, I’m talking about the protesters not looking for work!

    Report Post »  
  • garyM
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 10:52pm

    The vets already has job preference, they have had since the early 60′s, vets have a 5 point preference and 10 points for disabled vets. That means if a non-vet scores 5-10 points more than the vet in an interview, the vet still gets the job, purely a political move by the left!

    Report Post »  
    • Rui1198
      Posted on November 10, 2011 at 11:17pm

      The five and ten point preference only applies to Federal Jobs, and not every vet wants a federal job. As a retired Vet I would much rather work for a private firm that is interested and wants my certain skill sets. I personally am quite happy that these prefences do not apply to the private sector, now I do wish that more companies would take the time to learn more about our leadership experence and what our jobs entailed, ie: Aircraft Flight line supervisor does not mean running an airport.

      Report Post »  
    • isobamamadd
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 1:17am

      The left have always avoided military service, they hide behind school deferments, and other dodges like conscientious objector , even though they are agnostics or worse. the left cares not about the military, because the military is made up of conservatives kids, with conservative values… this is just a political move..you look at all the liberal Democrats and you won’t find any or few that served,without being drafted./..

      Report Post »  
  • Robert999
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 10:40pm

    Senator DeMint was the only Republican with enough backbone to vote against this socialist travesty.

    Report Post »  
  • SamIamTwo
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 9:40pm

    Their hearts are in the right place but I wonder if their minds are engaged…demand and supply…

    prob passed cause it is a non-starter…no impact to the budget. A token for el presidente who did not sign it on the boob tube. That is if Congress passes it…

    Hope they send it to OMB to crank out some numbers.

    Report Post » SamIamTwo  
    • SamIamTwo
      Posted on November 10, 2011 at 9:41pm

      who will not sign it in front to the boob tube…edit.

      Report Post » SamIamTwo  
  • Warm In The Desert
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 9:37pm

    A position one would describe as “squared away”…well done and well said.

    Report Post » Warm In The Desert  
  • War_Vet
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 9:22pm

    1st of all .. these Big Government buffoons [on both sides of the isle] still dont have the basic economic understanding that tax incentives do NOT in any way cause employers to hire.

    Hiring only happens when there is sufficient demand for the goods and services to necessitate more workers to meet that demand. This legislation while well intended, does nothing at all to increase demand. It’s political pandering .. nothing more.

    I won’t speak for any veteran other than myself, but I certainly don’t want/need/desire any freebie, handout, or any other token gestures.

    Thanks, but NO Thanks Uncle Sam .. you’ve done far too much already

    Report Post » War_Vet  
    • Capitalist Mama
      Posted on November 10, 2011 at 10:04pm

      You are right. As a small business owner, here’s how it works:

      First companies look for a solution to a problem.
      Next they decide hiring is the solution.
      Then they decide on the candidate.

      If there’s a tax break, that’s simply icing on the cake. $9,600 for an employee that will cost health care benefits (50% of HC), retirement matching benefits (1-3% of salary), unemployment tax (3% of salary up to $8500), FICA taxes (7.65% of salary), not to mention training & the cost to bring employees on board. It costs far more to have an extra employee than $9600. That’s not an incentive if a business had not already made the decision to hire.

      Report Post »  
  • ohiopeggy
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 9:22pm

    So it is a great thing to take money from one vet to give to another? The tax credit is funded from fees collected when you get a VA backed mortgage.

    Report Post »  
    • isobamamadd
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 1:23am

      look you tramp, i went where i didn’t want to go! if you have a problem with me getting a lower interest rate, your either stupid or sick. I paid off my loan with interest two times and you can call your stupid mother for your house payments!!!!!

      Report Post »  
  • flyvie
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 9:08pm

    The First Lady has promoted this, the First Lady has also said she is glad that she is now in a position to have an influence on legislation and enacting law. Wake up America they are using this as a guise for their own adgenda. Flotus is more evil than her wimpy husband, and her mother is even worse. Looks good on the outside for the Veterans, then slowly bring them in.

    Report Post »  
    • VeteranUS one each
      Posted on November 12, 2011 at 8:27am

      Yes, it does look like an ambush. A lot of vets get hired for the incentive, and then are canned and put back out on the street again as soon as the provisions of the incentive are satisfied.

      I don’t trust anything that this president says or does, and likewise with his congressional allies.

      Report Post »  
  • chasbronson
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 8:52pm

    Obamy is suckering for votes from the military people.

    Report Post »  
  • celestialfire
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 8:48pm

    Now the Senate needs to do something with the 22 bipartisan House jobs bills that are stalled in Harry’s desk drawer. http://www.gop.gov/policy-news/11/11/10/updated-summary-of-22-jobs

    Report Post »  
  • sooner12
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 8:42pm

    This legislation is great for vets and I am one; but to Obama this is nothing more than garnering votes from a select group which he has no use for otherwise.

    Report Post »  
  • garyM
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 8:29pm

    One million military personnel is getting out? How many will we have left, not many I say. Obama repealing DADT with an executive order as a dictator will greatly hurt our national security! It is late are in the 4th quarter and the score is 60 Enemy- 0 USA, the 2 minute warning has sounded, it’s clear our quarterback has been fumbling the ball and it appears he has been throwing the game since the kickoff, our lineman are warn out, the defense is moving in for the kill! The officials have been looking over illegal movement in the backfield, off sides, unsportsman like conduct, and a host of personal fowls!

    Report Post »  
  • jds7171
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 8:24pm

    “Those tax credits would cost $90 million over the next decade, according to White House estimates.”

    Tax credits don’t cost the government anything. Unless you think its their money you have in your pocket. Get it right. The money I have is mine, not the governments.

    Report Post »  
    • chasbronson
      Posted on November 10, 2011 at 8:51pm

      They have paid people to sit behind desks to figure out how they can take it.

      Report Post »  

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