Scott Brown to back Democrats' jobs bill

By Ben Pershing

Newly elected Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) will vote to advance Democrats' $15 billion jobs bill Monday evening, breaking with his party and giving Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) one of the two votes he needs to move the measure forward.

Democrats have sought to pressure Brown into backing the measure, pointing out that he captured the late Sen. Edward Kennedy's (D) seat by promising to be an independent voice. With Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) absent following his cancer diagnosis, Democrats need at least two Republican votes to reach the 60 necessary to move to final passage later this week, and so far no other GOP senator has announced plans to support the measure.

"I came to Washington to be an independent voice, to put politics aside, and to do everything in my power to help create jobs for Massachusetts families," Brown said in a statement issued by his office. "This Senate jobs bill is not perfect. I wish the tax cuts were deeper and broader, but I will vote for it because it contains measures that will help put people back to work.

"I was disappointed with the continuation of politics-as-usual in the drafting of this bill, as it was crafted behind closed doors, without transparency and accountability. I hope for improvements in that process going forward. All of us, Republicans and Democrats, have to work together to get our economy back on track. I hope my vote today is a strong step toward restoring bipartisanship in Washington."