Reply #4: Senate pressured to OK stimulus deal

[ozymandius]

WASHINGTON - A much-anticipated deal between the White House and once-warring House leaders to speed tax rebate checks to workers starting in May has the Senate in a bind over whether to try to add to the measure.

Few public developments were expected Friday as lawmakers digest Thursday's announcement of a hard-won agreement between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Republican leader John Boehner and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson that would pump about $150 billion into the economy this year and perhaps stave off the first recession since 2001.

The Senate very often wins its battles with the House. But now, with the power of the Bush administration behind them, House leaders are optimistic that their simply drawn measure — providing rebate checks to 117 million families and $50 billion in incentives for businesses to invest in new plants and equipment — would prevent the Senate from making significant changes such as extending unemployment benefits.
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The bill will go straight to the House floor next week and on to the Senate, where Democrats such as Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts promise to try to add elements such as extending unemployment benefits for workers whose benefits have run out, boost home heating subsidies and raise food stamp benefits.

Kennedy said he wants "to strengthen this package to provide unemployment insurance to workers looking for jobs and to help families coping with high heating costs and skyrocketing food prices."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080125/ap_on_go_co/economy_stimulus

FYI: The Bush Administration is against providing this kind of help.