Illinois' two U.S. senators want to advance parts of President Barack Obama's rejected jobs bill.

U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., is in favor of some tax provisions in the original bill.

"On the payroll tax deduction plan - I think that's solid, well supported on the house and senate side," Kirk said during an unrelated news conference on Monday.

Meantime U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., also agreed with the payroll tax cut, and added he's in favor of modernizing schools.

"If we work it through, item by item, we may have a better chance," Durbin said. "Incidentally most of the President's proposals were originally Republican ideas - so they're familiar with what we're trying to do."

Durbin estimated that advancing aspects of the jobs bill will begin in a couple of weeks.

Meantime Senate Republicans are coming up with their own jobs bill. It includes reforming tax codes, American offshore oil and gas exploration and a repeal of President Obama's overhaul of the U.S. healthcare system.