U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan has introduced S3706, The Americans Want to Work Act.  Of most interest to this forum is that this bill would extend the HIRE Act’s Payroll Tax Exemption through the end of 2011.  The Payroll Tax Exemption is currently slated to expire on December 31, 2010.
From the Senator’s website:

HIRE Act Background: The HIRE Act, signed into law earlier this year, provides two new tax incentives for employers to hire unemployed workers. Under the HIRE Act, businesses that hire Americans who have been out of work for at least 60 days are exempt from paying their 6.2 percent share of Social Security payroll taxes for all new hires up to the FICA wage cap of $106,800. To promote long-term employment, the HIRE Act also provides an additional $1,000 general business tax credit for each worker retained for at least one year.

Americans Want to Work Act Provisions: The bill includes two key provisions that apply to all states:

*       Extends the successful HIRE Act Payroll Tax Exemption for one year, through the end of 2011.

*       Doubles the general business tax credit, from $1,000 to $2,000, for businesses that hire (and retain for 52 weeks) someone who has exhausted all unemployment benefits. This is applicable to anyone who has exhausted all unemployment benefits or that is eligible for Tier 5. This would be effective at the date of enactment.