Senate vote for jobs bill delayed

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- The first U.S. Senate vote on a jobs bill has been pushed back by Democratic Party leaders from Monday to Tuesday, officials say.

The reason being given is the massive Washington snowstorm, but the delay also provides cover for Democrats who were unlikely to be able to meet their self-imposed deadline of Monday to hold a vote on the first of a series of jobs bills, the Washington publication Politico reported.

The newspaper said little progress was made on the bill in Sunday negotiations, even though it is reportedly packed with tax cuts sought by Republicans, because this year's midterm elections have sharpened partisan agendas.

"The thing about around here is nothing's agreed to until everything's agreed to," Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., told Politico.

Baucus is leading the negotiations on the bill.

"We can be very close, and it can collapse because something went haywire," he added.

"I expect the Senate will move this week on a jobs package, and I'm hoping it will be on a bipartisan basis," White House senior adviser David Axelrod said on C-SPAN's "Newsmakers" program.