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A jobs bill offering tax credits to businesses who hire veterans passed Thursday with bipartians support.
The approval of a bill providing tax credits for hiring unemployed or injured veterans is a ray of bipartisanship in an otherwise largely divided town. In recent weeks all or portions of President Obama’s jobs bill have been defeated in the Senate. But on the eve of Veterans Day, lawmakers came together to approve legislation providing up to a $5,600 tax credit for hiring an unemployed veteran and $9,600 for hiring injured veterans.
Virginia Democratic Senator Jim Webb says the bill will be a boon to those coming back from war zones: "It’s helpful. I mean certainly it’s something positive that we can do.”
Other portions of the president’s jobs bill that are estimated to spur more job growth remain stalled. But Maryland Democratic Senator Barbara Mikulski says a baby step is better than none.
"Any step forward takes us forward," says Mikulski.
The unemployment rate for veterans sits approximately three percent above the national average. The Senate-passed legislation also bolsters a program to retrain out of work soldiers.
NPR
From Classic Toys To New Twists, Kids Go Back To Blocks
NPR's Neda Ulaby investigates a trend in toys that sounds awfully familiar: Manufacturers are finding new ways to get kids interested in playing with blocks, both real and virtual.NPR
And The Winner Of The World Food Prize Is ... The Man From Monsanto
The prize is sometimes called the "Nobel Prize for food and agriculture." And this year's winners include Monsanto executive Robert Fraley, a pioneer in genetically engineered crops. If there's a single person who personifies the company's controversial role in American agriculture, it's probably Fraley.NPR
Capitol Hill's Partisan And Racial Divide Cast In Bronze
A 7-foot tall statue of famed abolitionist Frederick Douglass is more than just a tribute to the man. It's a larger-than-life reminder of the fight over voting rights and statehood for Washington, D.C.NPR
Microsoft Responds To Fan Outcry, Changes Xbox One Policies
In an apparent reversal, Microsoft has changed policies regarding Internet connection and used game capabilities for its upcoming Xbox One gaming console. The company says it is responding to feedback from consumers it received.Leave a Comment
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