Sen. Scott Brown to support Democrats' veterans jobs plan

Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) announced Monday night he will support Democrats' latest jobs proposal, a bill to give a tax breaks to businesses that choose to hire veterans. 

“We need to treat this as a truly bipartisan and hopefully bicameral effort,” said Brown of the Democrats' bill.” If we can't work together with our heroes that have served and given to our country so -- in a time of need, then I’m not quite sure what we'll be able to work together on.”

If Brown and other Republicans do vote for the bill it will represent a victory for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) who so far has been stymied in his quest to lure the minority to join with Democrats in voting on one of their jobs plans. Reid predicted on Monday afternoon at least a few Republicans would eventually join Democrats. 

"It is only a matter of time before they break and join Democrats in our efforts to create jobs and get the economy back on track," said Reid. 

In the case of the veterans bill most Republicans support the underlying tax cuts for business but are skeptical that when the bill emerges from Reid’s office it will include some sort of “poison pill” pay-for mechanism that will prevent them from voting for it.

Brown added from the floor that he also supports, H.R. 674, a Republican plan to repeal the 3 percent withholding bill and expressed his wish that passing bills in tandem would usher in a new era of bipartisan comity in the upper chamber. 

“If we can do these two things, repeal the 3 percent withholding and help our veterans in one day, potentially one week, maybe it will usher in a new era of good will."