SENATORS EXCHANGED sharp words last night over a proposed economic recovery package as President Barack Obama described as “devastating” news that almost 600,000 Americans lost their jobs last month.
Democratic leaders remained confident that the massive economic stimulus Bill would be approved last night after they postponed a vote for 24 hours to win over a handful of Republicans.
“This is a critical day for our country and this Congress,” Senate majority leader Harry Reid said.
“Faced with this grave and growing economic crisis, Republicans must decide today whether they will join the president and congressional Democrats on that road to recovery. If we succeed, there will be plenty of credit to go around. But if we fail, our entire country will suffer the consequences.”
Senate moderates, led by Maine Republican Susan Collins and Nebraska Democrat Ben Nelson, have been trying to cut spending from the bill to push it back from $940 billion (€726 billion) to about $800 billion.
The Bill needed the support of all Democrats and two or three Republicans to win the 60 votes necessary to avoid a filibuster.
“We’re trying to focus it on spending that truly helps stimulate the economy,” Ms Collins said.
“People have different views on whether or not a programme meets that test . . . We get close, and then it drops back, and then we get close again.”
Announcing a new economic advisory board yesterday, Mr Obama said that senators should consider the fact that 3.6 million Americans have now lost their jobs since the recession began.
“I hope they share my sense of urgency . . . the situation could not be more serious,” he said.
“These numbers demand action. It is inexcusable and irresponsible to get bogged down in distraction and delay while millions of Americans are being put out of work.”
The president, who has adopted a more combative tone in support of his economic plan in recent days, will leave Washington next week to make the case for the stimulus package in Indiana and Florida. Both states have been hit hard by the recession and both are home to moderate Republican senators Mr Obama hopes to win over to the plan.
“This is not some abstract debate. It is an urgent and growing crisis that can only be fully understood through the unseen stories that lie underneath each and every one of those lost jobs,” the president said.
“Somewhere in America, a small business has shut its doors, a family has said goodbye to their home, a young parent has lost their livelihood and doesn’t know what’s going to take its place. These Americans are counting on us.”
Most Senate Republicans remained critical of the plan, however, with Mr Obama’s former presidential rival accusing the president of failing to follow through on his bipartisan rhetoric.
“We want to have legislation that stimulates this economy,” Mr McCain said.
“But we want it to stimulate the economy, not mortgage the future . . . by the kind of fiscal profligate spending that’s embodied in this legislation.”
Any Bill approved by the Senate must be reconciled with a similar measure already passed by the House of Representatives before it can be sent to Mr Obama to be signed into law.