The debate on a $15 billion measure intended to spur employment was voted in on Monday by the U. S. Senate. The final vote was 62-30.

Democrats were joined in voting by Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass, who came to the Senate this month after winning a special election to serve the remainder of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy's term to end a Republican filibuster.

"I have came to Washington to be an independent voice, to put politics aside, and to do everything in my power to help create jobs for Massachusetts families," Brown said in a statement.

Brown further said," This Senate jobs bill is not perfect. I wish the tax cuts were deeper and broader, but I voted for it because it contains measures that will help put people back to work."

Republicans Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine, George Voinovich of Ohio, and Christopher Bond of Missouri, also voted with Democrats to end the filibuster on the jobs bill.

The vote was called "one important step" by President Barack Obama toward putting aside partisanship and moving forward on addressing joblessness.

The president said," I'm grateful to the Democratic and Republican Senators who voted to support these investments in infrastructure and small businesses. This is one of many efforts we need to tackle our economic challenges, and we will continue to work with Congress on additional job creation measures." (With Input from Agencies)