The key vote may have taken place on Monday, when five Republicans broke with their party to vote to end a GOP filibuster on a jobs bill pushed by Majority Leader Harry Reid.

The full Senate passed it this morning by a 70-28 vote. Thirteen Republicans joined 55 Democrats and two independents in supporting it. As was the case on Monday, the lone Democrat to vote no was Ben Nelson of Nebraska.

The bill was a $15 billion package of tax breaks for businesses hiring workers that is expected to, at best, make a modest dent in the nation's high unemployment rate — perhaps 250,000 new jobs.

But now it has to be reconciled with a far more reaching version passed by the House in December. The House bill cost $155 billion. Both bills include much-needed funds for highway construction, one reason why some think the House, despite its differences, will quickly sign onto the Senate version.

Reid had gotten some criticism for his decision to scuttle an $85 billion bipartisan package crafted by Max Baucus (D-MT) and Charles Grassley (R-IA) but one that Reid said was not in line with the Democrats' priorities.