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WASHINGTON (Feb. 13) - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid predicted Friday that Congress will finish its work on a massive, $787 billion economic stimulus plan, possibly by day's end, giving President Barack Obama a big victory.

Speaking as debate resumed on Capitol Hill, the Nevada Democrat said the Senate would likely vote on the package of spending and tax cuts later in the day and that the finished product could be sent to Obama's desk soon thereafter.

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"We expect to be in a position to vote on adoption of the conference report," Reid said at the start of the Senate day.

Obama, addressing a White House group, noted that lawmakers had a "spirited debate" and said the legislation is "only the beginning" of what he considers necessary "to turn our economy around." The president did not get all he wanted out of the bill.

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The 1,071 page measure — eight inches thick — was posted on an overburdened congressional Web site late Thursday, giving lawmakers just a few overnight hours to read it before debate resumed in both the House and Senate Friday morning.

The plan, freshly estimated at $787 billion by the Congressional Budget Office, combines $281 billion in tax cuts with $308 billion in outlays funded by the appropriations committees and about $198 billion in spending for benefit programs such as unemployment assistance, $250 payments or millions of people receiving Social Security benefits, and extra money for states to help with the Medicaid health program for the poor and disabled.

Obama's "Making Work Pay" tax cut would be scaled back from $500 for most workers to $400, with couples getting $800 instead of $1,000.

Obama said Friday that "passing this bill is a critical step." He plans to announce a new housing initiative soon, perhaps as early as next week.

"We have a once in a generation chance to act boldly, turn adversity into opportunity, and use this crisis as a chance to transform our economy for the 21st century," the president said.

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The plan is the signature initiative of the fledgling Obama administration, which is betting that combining tax cuts of just a few dollars a week for most workers with an infusion of hundreds of billions of dollars of government spending over the next few years will arrest the economy's fall.

"By investing in new jobs, in science and innovation, in energy, in education ... we are investing in the American people, which is the best guarantee of the success of our nation," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

But the inclusion of a $70 billion tax break to make sure middle- to upper-income taxpayers won't get hit by the alternative minimum tax — which economists say won't stir the economy — forced a reduction of Obama's signature tax break for 95 percent of workers.

Republicans pointed out a bevy of questionable spending items that made the final cut in House-Senate negotiations, including money to replace computers at federal agencies, inspect canals, and issue coupons for convertor boxes to help people watch TV when the changeover to digital signals occurs this summer.

"This measure is not bipartisan. It contains much that is not stimulative," said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., Obama's rival for the White House. "And is nothing short — nothing short — of generational theft" since it burdens future generations with so much debt, he added.

Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., whom Obama picked to be his Commerce secretary but who then withdrew, was ready to vote against the bill in the Senate.

Obama economics adviser Larry Summers cautioned against raising expectations too high.

"I think this is a key part of what's going to be a multipart strategy to contain this decline," he said. But Summers added that the problems "weren't made in a week, a month, a year. It's going to take time to fix." He said it should not be considered a "silver bullet," or panacea for deeply rooted business woes.

Much of the spending won't be delivered this year or even next, and Republicans pointed to studies by the Congressional Budget Office that say that adding so much to the national debt would cost the economy by the end of the decade.

Republicans, lined up to vote against the bill, piled on the scorn.

"One-time rebate checks, special interest pork, runaway spending -- these tired old ideas didn't work in the past administration. They won't work now," said Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis. "This is just more of the same."

It was clear that the measure was the result of old-fashioned sausage-making. Pet provisions were coming to light that had not been included in the original bills that passed the House or Senate — or that differed markedly from earlier versions. Some appeared to brush up against claims of the bill's supporters that no pet projects known as "earmarks" were included.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

2009-02-11 15:41:08

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1743 comments

Rashard411 09:22:03 PM Feb 13 2009

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White House1-202-224-3121, 1-202-456-1111 , 1-202-456-1414

CYates357 05:27:32 PM Feb 13 2009

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Dmbawg813...... 04:42:00 PM Feb 13 2009.......All of you republicans that think this is a theft of the country....were you asleep the last 8 years?............... xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxActually CONSERVATIVES have had a big problem with the way things have been going for years.........the straw that broke the CONSERVATIVES away from Bush and the RINO Republicans was the TARP bailout..........You remember TARP right.......when the Democrats, RINO's, and Bush pushed the Wall Street Bailout on CONSERVATIVE Republicans because after all the Democrats could have passed TARP with Bush's signature but they needed cover. Remember the old saying......."Two wrongs don't make a right."

Dmbawg813 04:42:00 PM Feb 13 2009

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All of you republicans that think this is a theft of the country....were you asleep the last 8 years? The GOP and W have put this country and the economy into an abyss with their "fiscally conservative spending". Now that Obama and the dems are doing something about you complain.....WAKE UP!!!!.

CYates357 04:07:14 PM Feb 13 2009

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In 6 months......get back to us about how that frisbee golf course, dog walk, or saving the San Francisco mouse habitat put you back to work, payed your car payment, payed your mortgage, or put clothes on your back or groceries on the table.

Lucky1128f 03:44:28 PM Feb 13 2009

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john mccain your right this is theft of the tax paying american people.you lib and dems have went to far. we the people say get out of the whitehouse now.

ROHLB2351 03:35:37 PM Feb 13 2009

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Mark Twain's quote, "Let's suppose you are an idiot and lets suppose that you are a Member of Congress, but I repeat myself," seems to hit the mark! But, think about it! Our Members of Congress pass laws but exclude themselves from compliance. Laws which include Social Security, Medicare and the proposed nationalization of our Health Care Sysetm. Wanna bet that no Member of Congress will be subject to the same level of medical care you can expect to receive under a Socialist Health Care Program?I'm afraid dear readers that, to paraphrase Pogo, "We have met the Idiots and they are us!" We are the ones who keep re-electing every member of our party to rule over us and can only find fault with those of that other party.

ROHLB2351 03:34:12 PM Feb 13 2009

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dgoodii 03:25:15 PM Feb 13 2009

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Here is a little quote from FDR "1935" I think it fits this bill fairly well------"A large proportion of these unemployed and their dependents have been forced on the relief rolls. The burden on the Federal Government has grown with great rapidity. We have here a human as well as an economic problem. When humane considerations are concerned, Americans give them precedence. The lessons of history, confirmed by the evidence immediately before me, show conclusively that continued dependence upon relief induces a spiritual disintegration fundamentally destructive to the national fiber. To dole our relief in this way is to administer a narcotic, a subtle destroyer of the human spirit. It is inimical to the dictates of a sound policy. It is in violation of the traditions of America. Work must be found for able-bodied but destitute workers."

Lucky1128f 03:10:25 PM Feb 13 2009

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lowstartunder- i see you fit right in with the rest of these dems and lib nuts.your party sucks and obama is one stupid person.

Kell8B 03:06:44 PM Feb 13 2009

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Harry reids whole concern is his 8 billion high speed rail. L.a to vegas. he gives not a tinkers damn about America, just reelection. These liberal demos are breaking this nation. You will pay taxes to support jobs that can't repay the investment. Create jobs, bring back lost jobs, stop this nightmare. This stimulus wouldn't stimulate their jackass.

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