:D I just can't find any sympathy in my heart.
McConnell, Senate Republicans helpless to shape stimulus bill
By Halimah Abdullah | McClatchy Newspapers
WASHINGTON — In the first major test of his power as the titular head of a dwindled Republican caucus, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell found himself outmaneuvered and outnumbered as he faced off against a Democratic majority on an Obama administration-backed $787 billion economic stimulus package.
"This legislation was driven by the White House, House Democrats and the Senate Democrats," said Larry Sabato, political science professor at the University of Virginia. ". . .
McConnell is in a terrible position. The Democrats have a hand full of aces. He has a bunch of twos."The final version of the economic stimulus package passed the Senate late Friday night on a largely partisan vote. The House of Representatives passed the final version of the bill on a vote of 246-183, with no Republican support.
President Barack Obama is expected to sign the bill as soon as Monday.
The White House has said the package will help resuscitate the nation's ailing economy by offering tax relief and creating or saving 3.5 million jobs. States will net $27.5 billion to modernize roads and bridges, $53.6 billion to help offset education costs and $87 billion for Medicaid.
McConnell and fellow Republicans said that the aid comes at too steep a price, contains too much entitlement spending, doesn't do enough to help financially strapped homeowners and doesn't contain enough tax cuts — a provision Republicans see as vital to shoring up the private sector.
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http://www.mcclatchydc.com/politics/story/62178.html
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