House Passes Obama's Stimulus Package

The House voted, 244-188, on Wednesday evening for President Obama's package of federal tax cuts and spending worth $819 billion and meant to jump-start the economy out of its worst crisis in decades. Before voting on President Obama's plan, the House rejected a stimulus measure offered by Republican members that focused more on tax cuts. The vote against that measure was 266 to 170, almost entirely on party lines. The Senate, where the Democrats' advantage was also increased by the November elections, is expected to debate economic stimulus measures next week. Considerable public debate and private negotiations could lie ahead, given differences between the White House and Congress, and Democrats and Republicans.