Spring Break
Congress starts final stimulus debate
David Lightman, McClatchy Newspapers
Issue date: 2/10/09 Section: News
WASHINGTON -- Congressional negotiators plan to engage in tough, hard-to-predict talks Wednesday aimed at resolving differences over education funding, tax cuts and other flash points as they try to craft a compromise version of the economic stimulus package.
Lawmakers began meeting within hours of the Senate's 61-37 vote Tuesday to approve an $838 billion stimulus plan, as three Northeastern Republicans joined 56 Democrats and two independents to form a majority. Under Senate rules, 60 votes were needed.
That means the three Republican mavericks _ Maine's Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins and Pennsylvania's Arlen Specter _ are vital to reaching any compromise. Their votes on final passage of any compromise are seen as fragile but crucial, since Democrats control 58 Senate seats and need 60 to cut off debate and to pass any measure that expands the federal deficit.
The House of Representatives passed an $819 billion version two weeks ago, and the houses now must forge one bill.
Lawmakers offered conflicting signals about prospects for quick compromise. The optimistic view is that negotiators should produce legislation by late Thursday.
Here's the case for that: Strong Democratic majorities control both houses and want to give their popular president a quick victory. They agree on most key provisions: effective $500 tax rebates for most consumers, billions to rebuild roads and bridges, about $87 billion to help states provide health care for poor people and those with disabilities and a 20- to 33-week extension of unemployment benefits.
Even a controversial Senate provision _ a $70 billion fix to the alternative minimum tax for many relatively well-off people _ is unlikely to meet much House resistance. "I would doubt it's going to come out," said House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md.
Other encouraging signs: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., predicted that by Wednesday afternoon, "we expect to have something done . . . that will at least head us in the right direction."
Lawmakers began meeting within hours of the Senate's 61-37 vote Tuesday to approve an $838 billion stimulus plan, as three Northeastern Republicans joined 56 Democrats and two independents to form a majority. Under Senate rules, 60 votes were needed.
That means the three Republican mavericks _ Maine's Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins and Pennsylvania's Arlen Specter _ are vital to reaching any compromise. Their votes on final passage of any compromise are seen as fragile but crucial, since Democrats control 58 Senate seats and need 60 to cut off debate and to pass any measure that expands the federal deficit.
The House of Representatives passed an $819 billion version two weeks ago, and the houses now must forge one bill.
Lawmakers offered conflicting signals about prospects for quick compromise. The optimistic view is that negotiators should produce legislation by late Thursday.
Here's the case for that: Strong Democratic majorities control both houses and want to give their popular president a quick victory. They agree on most key provisions: effective $500 tax rebates for most consumers, billions to rebuild roads and bridges, about $87 billion to help states provide health care for poor people and those with disabilities and a 20- to 33-week extension of unemployment benefits.
Even a controversial Senate provision _ a $70 billion fix to the alternative minimum tax for many relatively well-off people _ is unlikely to meet much House resistance. "I would doubt it's going to come out," said House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md.
Other encouraging signs: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., predicted that by Wednesday afternoon, "we expect to have something done . . . that will at least head us in the right direction."
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