Due to the heavy snowfall this week, the Senate will not likely act on its jobs bill this week ahead of the week-long Presidents Day recess. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Feb. 9 said that the heavy snowfall was impeding his efforts to bring up the jobs bill. But details have surfaced regarding the initial draft of what Senate Democratic leaders have in mind regarding its jobs measure, including some riders on the must-have legislation. For example, the bill would include a one-year extension of biodiesel tax incentives. Reid did not detail what would be in the package, but did say it would include an extension of the highway trust fund but would not include a provision dealing with the estate tax. 

The jobs bill likely will total around $80 billion and will target efforts to combat unemployment without including spending measures that would prevent Republicans from supporting it. The key item will be a package of tax incentives to encourage businesses to hire, but it also may include an extension of tax policies that expired last year and several economic stimulus initiatives set to expire at month's end. While estate tax reform language is not reportedly in the Senate measure, Republicans have agreed to call up estate tax legislation (HR 4154) some time soon.