Senate Passes Stimulus Bill
The U.S. Senate today gave final approval to an $838B stimulus package, sending the bill on to a conference committee where Democratic lawmakers will work to marry its differences with the $819B House version.
The House bill was passed with no Republican support. GOP Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, who each represent ME, and Sen. Arlen Specter of PA backed the Senate proposal. The final Senate vote today: 61-37.
With GOP Gov. Charlie Crist of FL by his side, Pres. Obama in Fort Myers today praised Congress for taking action, The Washington Post reports.
"That's good news," Obama said, when notified during the event of the outcome of the vote. "It's a good start."
Who are the conferees?