Stimulus bill survives Senate test

Washington —- An $838 billion economic stimulus bill backed by the White House survived a key test vote Monday in the Senate despite strong Republican opposition, and Democratic leaders vowed to deliver legislation for President Barack Obama’s signature within a few days.

Monday’s vote was 61-36, one more than the 60 needed to end debate on the measure and advance it to a Senate floor vote today. That in turn, will set the stage for possibly contentious negotiations with the House on a final compromise on the legislation, which the president says is desperately needed to tackle the worst economic crisis in more than a generation.

Both of Georgia’s senators, Republicans Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson, cast “no” votes Monday. But the outcome was scarcely in doubt after last week’s agreement by the White House and Democratic leaders to trim about $100 billion.

Republican Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe of Maine and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania broke ranks to cast their votes to advance the bill.

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), battling a brain tumor, made his first appearance in the Capitol since suffering a seizure on Inauguration Day, and he joined all other Democrats in support of the measure.

“There is no reason we can’t do this by the end of the week,” said Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.). He said he was prepared to hold the Senate in session into the Presidents’ Day weekend if necessary, and cautioned Republicans not to try and delay final progress.

He said passage would mark “the first step on the long road to recovery.”

As if to underscore the bill’s prospects for passage, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a prominent and powerful business group, issued a statement calling on the Senate to advance the measure.

Even so, in the hours before the vote, Republican opponents attacked the bill as too costly and unlikely to have the desired effect on the economy. “This is a spending bill, not a stimulus bill,” said Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.).

The House and Senate versions of the legislation are relatively close in size —- $838 billion in the Senate and $819 billion in the House —- and are similar in many other respects. At the same time, the differences are considerable.

The measure nearing approval in the Senate calls for more tax cuts and less spending than the House bill, largely because it includes a $70 billion provision to protect middle-class taxpayers from falling victim to the alternative minimum tax, which was intended to make sure the very wealthy don’t avoid paying taxes.

 Associated Press 
FUNDING DIFFERENCES IN STIMULUS BILLS 
Proposed spending and tax credits in the economic recovery plan 
Spending and tax credits in select areas 
AREA......FUNDING 
Health care 
..House: $153.3 billion 
..Senate: 140 
Education 
..House: 143 
..Senate: 119.1 
Infrastructure 
..House: 90.4 
..Senate: 62 
Aid to poor and unemployed 
..House: 71.5 
..Senate: 66.5 
Green energy programs 
..House: 39.4 
..Senate: 74 
Home buyers tax credit 
..House: 2.6 
..Senate: 35.5 
Note: Figures for the proposed Senate bill are as of Feb. 7.