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| Vannia Jerry, left, and her mother Kristen Jerry shop at Steve & Barry's store on Thursday, Aug. 16, 2007 in New York. The success of the federal $150 billion emergency economic stimulus plan will hinge on whether American consumers do what they do best _ spend, spend, spend. President Bush and leaders in Congress hope people will spend those rebates _ a flat-screen television, maybe, or a trip to Disneyland _ to help revive an economy sagging from bad mortgage lending and a lack of confidence in the stock market. |
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The $146 billion economic aid package on a fast track to passage in the House faces an uncertain future in the Senate, where lawmakers in both parties are trying to tack on billions for senior citizens and the unemployed. The House planned a Tuesday afternoon vote on its plan to speed rebates of up to $600-$1,200 to most income earners while giving tax breaks to businesses.
Max Baucus, the Finance Committee chairman, set a Wednesday vote on a roughly $160 billion version he unveiled Monday, which gives $500-$1,000 rebates to a broader group, including older Americans living off Social Security and wealthier taxpayers, and would extend unemployment benefits.
Senate leaders hope to pass it by week's end, said Jim Manley, a spokesman for Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.
The action put the Senate on a collision course with President Bush, who used his State of the Union message Monday night to pressure the Senate to resist the temptation to "load up the bill."
"That would delay it or derail it, and neither option is acceptable," the president said. "This is a good agreement that will keep our economy growing and our people working."
The House plan brought together Democrats and Republicans, both of whom surrendered cherished proposals to reach a deal. The White House and congressional leaders agree it is critical to enact an economic recovery package as soon as possible to help head off a recession and boost consumer confidence.
Senior House Democrats were among those warning the Senate not to tinker too heavily with the package their leaders negotiated. Rep. Charles B. Rangel, D-N.Y., the Ways and Means chairman, said Baucus, D-Mont., was "walking on very thin ice" with his proposal to send rebates to wealthier taxpayers, which he said could jeopardize the entire package.
"By eliminating the income cap, we would only further grow the divide between rich and poor that has already grown so much under President Bush's policies," Rangel said. Adding an unemployment extension or other spending such as food stamp, Medicaid or heating assistance could improve the plan, he added.
In the Senate, though, Republicans were as eager as Democrats to revamp the plan. Several GOP senators backed the proposal to extend unemployment payments for 13 weeks for those whose benefits have run out, with 26 more weeks available in states with the highest jobless rates. Some also have asked for more business tax breaks.
"Many of these additions have bipartisan support, and I hope that the president will recognize that the White House needs to negotiate with the Senate as well as the House," said Sen. Susan M. Collins, R-Maine, who backs both the rebates for seniors and the unemployment extension.
Sen. Olympia J. Snowe, R-Maine, a Finance Committee member, called the unemployment extension "critical" and said she supported ensuring that the rebates reached the elderly.
Under Senate plan, some 20 million senior citizens not covered by the House plan because they don't have income would receive rebates.
"The White House says we mustn't slow the economic stimulus agreement down, or blow it up," Baucus said. "I agree. We're going to improve it and get it passed right away."
Baucus' plan would send rebates to all Americans with earned income of $3,000 or more, while the House plan gives only partial rebates to individuals with adjusted gross incomes of more than $75,000 and couples with incomes in excess of $150,000, and no rebate at all to the wealthiest taxpayers.
It also would restore a business tax break dropped during the House negotiations that would permit corporations suffering losses now to reclaim taxes previously paid.
Congressional analysts were still crunching numbers to determine the final cost of the Senate proposal. In the House, they put out new estimates tallying the cost of the House plan at about $145 billion - lower than the initial $150 billion estimate - and said it would send rebates to about 111 million taxpayers rather than the 117 million previously projected.
