Newly minted Republican Sen. Scott Brown and four other Republican senators voted with the Democratic majority on Monday to block a Republican filibuster of a bill pushing job creation, showcasing the kind bipartisanship that has not been seen yet in Congress.
The bill, which will be voted on Wednesday, would cost $15 billion but could potentially create tens of thousands of new jobs, Senate Democrats said.
If passed, it would allow businesses that hire unemployed workers to avoid paying Social Security taxes for these employees through December and would also provide those businesses with a $1,000 credit for each new worker they continue to employ for one year.
Boston University students involved in political activism on both sides of the aislesaid they recognized Brown’s efforts as the kind of bipartisan move he had promised during his come-from-behind campaign.
BU College Republicans President Katie Flannery, a senior in the School of Management, said in an email that the vote is proof of Brown’s independent appeal.
“Scott Brown’s vote, and the votes of the four other Republicans who voted for the jobs bill is proof that the Republicans aren’t just a party of “No,'” she said. “I believe Scott Brown ran for the “people’s seat’ and I believe he intends to hold true to his promises and vote in a way that is best for the people of Massachusetts and the United States, regardless of party lines.”
BU College Democrats Campaign Relations Director Elizabeth Jones, a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences and College of Communication, said while this is a good step forward for Congress, it is also an unusual occurrence.
“I think it’s a sort of rarefied instance of bipartisanship and I very much respect that Scott Brown was the first,” Jones said. “He did campaign as an independent thinker and he’s willing to support democratic initiatives.”
Jones said she was still concerned about party divisions in Congress.
“I think the fact that people are so shocked by this is an indication of how ridiculous it is trying to get anything done in Congress,” she said. “But I think it’s a very hopeful sign.”
BUCR Vice President Emma Sullivan, a CAS junior, said she hopes this situation can set a precedent for the future.
“Hopefully we will witness more cases of bipartisanship in the future, which is how Washington should work all the time &- with both sides working with each other successfully on a variety of bills without compromising their convictions,” Sullivan said.
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