WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate seemed ready Monday to temporarily ease its partisan standoff over President Barack Obama's jobs plan and come together on providing an economic boost to two potent interest groups: veterans and businesses.

Senators were expected to vote overwhelmingly Monday to start debating a bill repealing a requirement that federal, state and many local governments withhold 3 percent of their payments to contractors. That bill has been lobbied by a wide swath of industry groups large and small and has no significant opposition.

By the time the Senate approves the legislation — perhaps later this week — Democrats planned to add language backed by both parties offering tax breaks to companies that hire veterans and providing vets with employment counseling and other job-hunting services.