House nears vote on year-end plan to create jobs
Andrew TaylorPresident Barack Obama's Democratic allies in the House rallied support Wednesday for a year-end plan to create jobs, mixing almost $50 billion for public works with help for the unemployed and cash-strapped state and local governments.
Conspicuously absent were Obama's recently announced initiatives to give Social Security recipients $250 payments, a tax credit for small businesses that create jobs, and a program awarding tax credits to people who make their homes more energy efficient.
With an evening vote planned, not a single Republican was expected to vote for the plan. If passed, the bill would go to the Senate, which won't consider the measure until next year. Senators have a smaller appetite for such deficit-financed economic stimulus measures.
The $174 billion measure blends a familiar mix of money for highway, transit and water projects with aid to help communities retain teachers and firefighters. There's also $41 billion for a six-month extension of more generous unemployment benefits and $12 billion to renew health insurance subsidies.
Many of the ideas are renewals of programs started in February's $787 billion economic stimulus bill, which has earned mixed reviews from the public as unemployment has hit 10 percent.
Republicans branded the new bill "Son of Stimulus" and distributed a chart showing that roughly half the money goes into accounts brimming with cash from the stimulus bill.
"More spending, more debt. Same lousy policies that haven't produced jobs all year," said House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio.
The bill also would extend federal surface transportation programs through the end of next September and take $20 billion from the federal treasury to keep the highway trust fund afloat.
Democratic leaders were scouring the ranks for votes to pass the measure, which was coming up right after the House approved a $290 billion increase in the government's ability to borrow. The 218-214 vote reflected unhappiness by moderate Democrats about adding to the nation's red ink.