February 9, 2010

Senate Democrats have started circulating a jobs bill -- one that doesn't contain a lot of new initiatives for boosting hiring.

It does contain provisions that have been sought by lobbyists for business groups, doctors and the satellite broadcasting industry.

The measure is still in draft form, and hasn't been officially released.

Among the few new ideas for creating jobs is a $10 billion plan to exempt companies from paying the employer's share of Social Security payroll taxes for new hires if they are unemployed and hired this year.

It's an idea seen as more workable than President Barack Obama's plan for tax credits of up to $5,000 for new hires.

The measure ignores some of President Obama's other ideas as well, including a $250 payment to Social Security recipients and $25 billion in help for states.

The rest of the measure is mostly made up of some of last year's unfinished business -- including renewal of business tax breaks that have expired, and an extension of unemployment benefits.