Obama signs HIRE Act to spur jobs

On March 18, President Obama signed the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act (H.R. 2847, summary here), a $38 billion jobs bill comprised of several tax breaks and spending provisions to encourage employers to start hiring again. The bill includes a one-year extension of the federal highway program, an extension of the Build America Bonds program that helps states finance certain infrastructure projects, and various tax breaks for hiring and retaining previously unemployed workers.