The entire Republican caucus was joined by 11 Democrats in opposition of the bill, passing with a vote of 244-188.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 passed through the lower chamber of congress today, putting the stimulus on track to be signed into law before Presidents Day Weekend. The entire Republican caucus was joined by 11 Democrats in opposition of the bill, passing with a vote of 244-188.
The voting record represents a setback to President Obama's vision of bipartisan governance. Despite meeting with the GOP caucus in order to field questions and hear concerns, Obama was unable to get any House Republicans to vote for the stimulus. TheHill.com reports:
Despite hinting that they might agree with Obama's initial call for a stimulus bill, Republicans in the end balked, and did so forcefully and unanimously, especially after the addition of more than $350 billion in spending by House appropriators.
It seems that Obama's decision to back off tax cuts that drew initial criticism from Congressional Democrats may have played a role in the complete lack of support from the Republican Caucus.
However, there are signs that a provision that has been added into the Senate's version of the stimulus, an adjustment of the alternative minimums tax, could succeed in garnering the votes of House Republicans when the bill arrives back for a final vote in the House. The tax code adjustment would hold down middle-class income taxes for 2009.
A version of the bill is currently working its way through the Senate, and is expected to garner more bipartisan support in its vote next week.
Read more about Breakthrough's thoughts on the stimulus:
I have been watching certain financial networks all day today and writing pieces on my website about the stimulus. One thing that comes to mind is that Washington is constantly talking about how things need to change. Education needs to change, tax law needs to change, lobbyists need to change. If we're all about change, why is Washington still running the same way. Partisan this and that. Kids do what their parents do and not what they say. If Washington wants change, then Washington needs to do it first. How about coming together on something and not voting down party lines on everything.
Posted by: elementaryfinance at January 29, 2009 9:42 PM