Senate appropriators pass stimulus plan over GOP doubts

The Senate Appropriations Committee passed its portion of the $825 billion economic stimulus package Tuesday despite concerns raised by Republicans about whether the measure will quickly jump-start the economy.

The package was approved, 21-9, with four Republicans voting for and nine against it. The Appropriations portion of the stimulus consists of $365 billion in discretionary spending under the committee's jurisdiction, which tops the $358 billion in discretionary spending included in the House Appropriations package.

Of the $365 billion, $142 billion would go toward infrastructure and science programs; $125 billion for education and training initiatives; and $49 billion for energy programs, with the rest spread among other programs.

The Senate could take up the legislation as soon as this week.

Citing mounting job losses, Senate Appropriations Chairman Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, said the government must "use all means available" to address the economic crisis. "Failure to act could lead to much greater deficits and economic problems for our nation for years to come. This measure is a very important step forward."

But Appropriations Committee ranking member Thad Cochran, R-Miss., said that while he agrees on the urgent need to address the slump, the panel is being asked "to take a leap of faith that this massive amount of spending will stimulate a suffering economy, despite evidence that much of the funding will not be spent in the next year or two."

Cochran's comments came on the heels of new Congressional Budget Office report noting that about 65 percent of the bill's overall funding would be spent within the first 18 months of enactment. That is below President Obama's goal of spending 75 percent in 18 months. A previous CBO report on the discretionary spending in the House version indicated that less than half would be spent by the end of fiscal 2010.

Cochran recommended that some stimulus spending be handled in the regular annual appropriations bills, which would allow the stimulus bill to focus spending on short-term job creation. Cochran voted for the package, but he said he did so only out of deference to Inouye. He added he reserved the right to oppose the measure on the Senate floor after he examines the measure in full, with the tax component.

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., also a member of the Appropriations panel, said he understood the concerns but stressed that the economic crisis is like none seen since World War II and could require more than $825 billion. Comparing the stimulus to a defibrillator, Durbin added: "You want enough voltage to resuscitate the patient. And if it means spending a little extra money to do it, you're going to do that."

Inouye urged panel members to refrain from offering amendments and wait to offer them on the Senate floor. Three were offered, but all were withdrawn.

Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., offered two, including one that would double spending in the bill for the Army Corps of Engineers to $9.2 billion. She also offered an amendment to provide $120 million to improve military barracks. At the urging of Inouye, she decided to wait until floor action.

Sen. Christopher (Kit) Bond, R-Mo., sought to offer a $2 billion increase to the low-income housing tax credit by cutting funding for high-speed rail in the stimulus. He also withdrew his amendment.