House approves $15B job bill, 217-201

The House passed the Senate's $15 billion jobs bill in a 217-201 vote on Thursday.

Lawmakers voted to approve the package, which provides a series of tax credits for job creation and other stimulus measures, after Democrats struggled to pass a rule for the legislation.

Thirty-five Democrats opposed the bill while six Republicans supported it.

The jobs bill had passed through the Senate after Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) pulled a larger, more comprehensive bill that had been negotiated by Democrats and Republicans, only to offer the more modest, $15 billion package.

The Reid bill, meant to spur job creation, cleared a procedural hurdle with five Republican votes — including new Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) — and one Democratic defection. Thirteen Republican senators supported the package on final passage.

Reid has signaled that he'll proceed with a series of smaller, targeted jobs bills in the days and weeks to come.

The House barely passed the rule that brought the jobs measure to the floor, 212-209, as 38 Democrats defected.

Many Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) members voted against the rules measure, which is usually a straight party-line vote. The defections were a clear rebuke of Democratic leaders.

CBC lawmakers have strongly protested the bill, which is what the Senate passed last month.

CBC Chairwoman Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) voted against the rule. Other CBC members who voted no include Reps. Donald Payne (D-N.J.), Bobby Rush (D-Ill.), Corrine Brown (D-Fla.) and Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.).

CBC members who voted yes include Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) and Reps. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.), Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.) and Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.).

"He said, 'John, if this bill goes down, you can kiss forever goodbye the bill that we really need," Conyers said of Hoyer. 

Conyers said he wants the Senate to take up the House-passed $154 billion jobs that focused on infrastructure projects. Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) persuaded the Judiciary Committee chairman to vote for the rule by telling him the Senate would probably not pursue other jobs bill if Thursday's measure failed.Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who rarely votes, registered her "aye" vote on the rule.

During floor debate, Rep. Steven LaTourette (R-Ohio) strongly criticized the jobs bill and lambasted House Democrats for not allowing the GOP to amend it.

After Democrats objected to a motion that would change the bill, LaTourette said, "This is nonsense!"Because of the minor changes the House made to the measure, the bill goes back to the Senate. brown, who attracted criticism from conservatives for voting for the Senate jobs bill, said he would likely back the merged legislation.

"If it's the same, I'll vote for it again with minor tweaks," Brown said. "If minor tweaks mean several billion dollars, then no."

Walter Alarkon contributed to this article, which was updated at 5:57 p.m.