House begins debate on stimulus

Posted: Friday, February 13, 2009 10:05 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: Congress, Economy, Mike Viqueira

From NBC's Mike Viqueira and Ken Strickland
The U.S. House has just begun procedural debate on the stimulus conference report. Following this debate and a procedural vote, general debate on the conference report will take place. It will last roughly two hours.

A final vote will occur in the 1:00 pm ET. It's expected to pass, of course. Then it's on to the Senate, but we don't have an exact time the chamber will start the final vote on the bill. Majority Leader Harry Reid said it would happen either late afternoon or early evening.

Reid also has said he will hold the vote open, probably for a few hours, to accommodate Sen. Sherrod Brown, who will be attending a memorial service for his mother. She died in Ohio earlier this week.

Because Sen. Ted Kennedy will not be voting today, Brown's vote is absolutely critical, since it will take 60 votes for passage. The last procedural vote yielded 61; without Kennedy, it's down to 60 assuming everyone votes the same (and that Judd Gregg votes against the measure).

Yesterday, Reid said Brown may not be able to get back to Washington until 8:00 pm. So there will likely be a scenario where at Nightly News time, the are 59 votes while they wait for Brown to fly back and be the final decisive vote for passage.

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Comments

Debate? What's it going to be, about 10 minutes worth? The bill is somthing like 700 pages in length. That's more then a billion dollars a page. I guess I'd like to hear every page debated if we Americans are going to be footing that size of bill.

And good luck Nancy Pelosi on your trip to Rome! Always nice to have your desk clear of trillion dollar bills before you leave.

Ben Campbell, Oakdale, Ohio (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 10:12 AM)

It's late, but it's not too late - please call your representatives in Congress and get this thing killed!

Alice Cooper (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 10:15 AM)

Maybe the Democrats will release either Collins or Snowe's family members, and one of those two will vote No. You could kidnap all of Specters family, he wouldn't care, that doofus would still vote Yes.

Tired of the Hype (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 10:16 AM)

What's the rush? It's almost like the Democrats don't want you to know what's in the bill.

Almost (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 10:17 AM)

Thoughts and prayers to Ted Kennedy and all the families affected by the horrible plane crash.

cindy, Las Vegas, Nv (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 10:20 AM)

porkho Pelosi says: hurry up and pass the bill, I am going on an 8 day trip to Rome
Democrat senator says, no time to read the final bill before being voted on
THIEVES IN CONGRESS
http://www.drudgereport.com

Timmy TurboTax Bedsoiler (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 10:25 AM)

Republicans win if the bill passes or fails. It's that simple.

Life's never been better for them. Being a minority has it's perks.

Dem's are all jacked up on Mountain Dew and running with scissors on the slip and slide.

Josh Larson, FL (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 10:26 AM)

Call your Representative and tell them NOT to Pass this piece of crap stimulus. They REMOVED the E-IDENTIFY which checks an employee's citizenship.

Ridgelon

----------

No surprise.

This is Obama and Pelosi's way of genuflecting to the radicals in their party that support 'Immigration Reform', ie., open borders. Real Americans getting real American jobs? Obama doesn't care, he wants to integrate the illegals to become citizens, give them a lot of benefits, and make sure they become as ingrained in Democratic politics as the African-Americans are today.

P. Williamson, Indiana (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 10:27 AM)

With all due respect to Ted's health, do the rules not allow him to appoint a proxy to vote for him in person? Can't he phone/log a vote in?

If he can show up once to cast a vote last week, then he really should show up one more time for this vote.

Joe - STL (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 10:29 AM)

STIMULUS? Are you talking about that 600 page liberal piece of garbage that Pelosi and Obama are trying to shove down American taxpayers throats?

Bad Chihuahua (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 10:38 AM)

Diane from Illinois (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 10:39 AM)

So much for Obummer's promise to make everything transparent and available to the public ahead of time before voting. Wasn't it supposed to be at least 48 hours? Someone told me 5 days, but I'm pretty sure at least 48 hours. Glad to see he's just an "honest" guy who never lies.

KLM in MI (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 10:39 AM)

Obama's presidency so far can be defined in an old Yardbirds song. "Over Under Sideways Down."

Bad Chihuahua (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 10:41 AM)

How many republican families paid the price this week in job and benefit losses? Thats what happens when you vote religion and other nonsense social issues over economic fuundamentals. Make sure you pray for some of that cosmic ATM action though.

Truthslayer (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 10:42 AM)

HEADLINES:
------------------------------------------------------
FINAL STIMULUS BILL BALLOONS TO 1,071 PAGES...

Dem Senator Predicts: None of His Colleagues 'Will Have Chance' to Read It...

Dems Delay and Reformat E-Version of Bill So It Cannot Be Searched On Internet By Voters...

Dems Break Promise To Post Bill 48-Hour Before Vote...

THIS IS YOUR "CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN" NEW POLITICS OBAMA GOVERNMENT!
======================================================

THIS IS YOUR "CHANGE YOU CAN BELIEVE IN" ...! (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 10:43 AM)

I sure hope all of those opposed to the stimulus bill do the right thing and refuse to be socialists and decline their share of the money. When pigs fly will a flip flopping republican turn down money someone else fought and voted for...lame rightwing courage

Rick, NC (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 10:45 AM)

You can bet that there will be grumbling by the same party that used to come up with bills in the middle of the night. But now that they are out of power, it's soooo unfair. You democrats aren't playimg fair. I thought we wetre going to have real change. So is voting against the Bill by every single member a change for the better? Is not standing out against right wing jok-talk by rush ( I hope Barak fails )a new way to change. How can Obama failing be good for our country. I submit that in their silence, the republics are co-signimg hate and tyranny. There's a change you can beleive in. I know that there must be some hate and hard feelings on both sides. The dems have a right to be angry about what has gone on for years. But now we must try to get back to grown up governing, folks. Try to play nice.

Daniel DeGrandpre, Vancouver, Washington (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 10:46 AM)

Let's get this DONE

Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good

I'd love to see more school aid and more aid to the states
Just can't have it

Maybe next time

Thank you Nancy Pelosi !!
Conservatives don;t like you
They complain about you
That means you're doing a GREAT JOB !!

A GREAT JOB for America !!
A Great Job for San Francisco !!

MSierra, SF (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 10:50 AM)

How will every important date in history be rewritten with "what Obama did on this day" if they cause him to miss his President's Day target?

YES WE CAN!! (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 10:51 AM)

Liars

Cheaters

Thieves

Democraps are pulling the wool of America's eyes and "ridin us dirty" to be perfectly honest.

Once the government owns you, they are your master and we will are get to experience sub servantcy first hand.

Nobody gives you something for nothing, in this case our children and grandchildren's futures.

We love the way government runs and handles business!

Ed Crane, Middlebury, IN (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 10:53 AM)

Is there no Republican in the Senate with enough decency to step forward and say that they will not be voting so as to respect Senator Kennedy, and his medical condition, and negate the effect of his absence? Everyone in the country knows that Teddy would be there if he could -- why make the man endanger his health or his strong desire to support for his president when a 'gentleman's agreement' for one Republican to refrain from voting would take care of it very nicely? But I suppose that would require that there still be gentlemen (or ladies) among the Republicans, beyond the brave three who are putting country first before party. This is a very sad day, that it has come to this.

Elizabeth (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 10:55 AM)

Guess What?

I found some analysis which reveals how much tax money states get back compared to how much they put in . . . VERY INTERESTING!

http://www.taxfoundation.org/press/show/22659.html

Here's your TOP TEN STATES getting MORE MONEY FROM the federal governement than they put in - for every $1 they put in, this is what they got back:

1. New Mexico $2.03

2. Mississippi $2.02

3. Alaska $1.84

4.Louisiana $1.78

5. West Virginia $1.76

6. North Dakota $1.68

7. Alabama $1.66

8. South Dakota $1.53

9. Kentucky $1.51

10. Virginia $1.51

Hmmmm, lot's of RED STATES on that list . . . interesting . . . talk about having your cake and eating it too.

Nashville_fan (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 10:56 AM)

It is sad to see the lame vitriole from the GOPer losers who post here.

Q As Rick NC suggested, why not turn down the money if your state does not need it and your Senators and Reps. did not vote for it? That would be a position based on principles

A. Answer not a chance. I almost forgot, GOPer losers have no principles except for the few moderates left in the NE. The rest of you are still patheically in denial like Boehner.

Get some therapy GOPers. Defensive denial is a very primtive and dangerous defense mechanism that enables one to fall from the cliff that was there that you could not "see".

The rest of us and our Reps and Senators saw the cliff and put the breaks on. May you scream in shock all the way to the ground GOPer losers.

A moment of silence to th 49 who died in the Buffalo crash. Life is fleeting and fragile. Sieze the day!

Ed, Fw, TX (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 10:56 AM)

With all due respect to Ted Kennedy, if the guy is too sick to vote, and too sick to show up for work at all, why is he still in the Senate? He's pretty much done nothing since he was diagnosed last May.

Mary Jo Kopechne (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 10:57 AM)

GOP is the real party of fiscal discipline !!!

oh wait - they doubled the national debt in 8 years...oh wait annual budget deficits due to huge tax cuts for the rich and getting us into war for oil, cutting regulations for big corporatation that send jobs overseas...who needs tax money for police, fire, schools, roads, water ?? not the richy rich GOP - they fire 30,000 people and send their kids to private school..

GOP is bankrupt - GOP is party of Hoover - party of trickle down to the billionaires - RIP GOP...you always have been and continue to be the party of "ME" first...bring on Palin/Limbaugh 2010.2012...haha

SWL (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 10:57 AM)

I see this whole thing as a chess-like gambit by republicans.

If they CAN manage to block passage of the stimulus bill, it raises a BIG question of who's in charge and pretty much halts President Obama's momentum. If they can't, it's a wash. Even if they had supported it, they would have gotten no credit for it, just like democrats who voted with President Bush on the war. In short, there's just no percentage -- in political terms -- for the republicans to support this bill.

If the stimulus passes, republicans will do everything they can to make sure either that the stimulus fails, or that Americans perceive that it has failed. Meanwhile, President Obama has already said, "if it doesn't work, fire me."

You can bet your sweet life we'll be seeing that sound bite again.

Cherry, cherry.

^^^^^^^^^^^^

My sympathies, thoughts, and prayers go out to the friends and families of the plane crash victims.

Anna Molly (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 10:58 AM)

Real Americans getting real American jobs? Obama doesn't care, he wants to integrate the illegals to become citizens, give them a lot of benefits, and make sure they become as ingrained in Democratic politics as the African-Americans are today.

P. Williamson, Indiana
=============
Lush Limpbaugh is calling for you attend the next force feeding of stupidity. When you get done with him, you're next appointment is with Sean Insanity. He's got some more lies to feed you. Geesh!

Diane from Illinois (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 10:58 AM)

P, Williamson No Surprise Ingrained,,, just the the African Americans, Jeez, are we talking racism here? Shouldn't you be talking about, "just like northern Europian imigrants? Isn't that how the great white hope arrived here and invaded the lands of the prvious residents, Native Americans, who unfortunately didn't have border protecion either. Who died and made white people kings of this stolen property we are on. I hope the middle America's peoples super multiply and vote your Rebubic hinies right off the planet!

Daniel DeGrandpre, Vancouver, Washington (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 10:58 AM)

Rick NC
I hope all those big government liberals who think all these pet projects are worth it do the right thing and send in extra money to the IRS to pay for them.

Do you really think this bill will stimulate anything other the left leaning political organizations?
they removed to only piece of stimulus. The money that people will see. $13 per week.

Hypocrite (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 10:58 AM)

With all due respect to Ted's health, do the rules not allow him to appoint a proxy to vote for him in person? Can't he phone/log a vote in?

Joe - STL

Because of a quirky rule, Ex Governor Rod Blagojevich has the power to appoint a successor to Senator Kennedy. Rod is currently busy selling the seat and hopes to have something done by early this afternoon.

Illinois Ike (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 10:59 AM)

Right Wing Pig Flyer (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 11:01 AM)

We need time to read this damn thing! The Democrats in the House met in "secret" to put this whole thing together!

It was great to see my representative, Grassely, blow a gasket on how they got steamrolled in the Senate (I was up until 2AM watching C-Span the other night).

Rumors are that there are the initial seeds to government run health care in this thing.

Grassely did make an interesting remark towards Rangel at the "photo-op" "conference". Grassely mentioned how when the Republicans ran Congress that Rangel would walk the halls of Congress with a television crew looking for conferences. Grassely now knows how Rangel felt.

Unlike us in the hinterlands with our own individual passions regarding issues. These guys in Congress need to work together.

It is even helpful for us in the hinterlands to take the time to understand the other guys position.

Slappy, Iowa (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 11:02 AM)

Lindsey Graham, Vitter and Shelby will be the first one in line with their hands held out to receive money that they've voted against. All the republicans have voted no, and have not offered not one solution for our families lives!

And all of you Obama/Pelosi Bashers had better get on board, because you and your children and grandchildren's live depend on it!!

I SEE COLOR (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 11:03 AM)

It will be a real stab in the back if Gregg votes no on the stimulus. He was interviewed after his nomination stating that he supported a stimulus which, at the time, was about this size. I think the real story is that some in the GOP "got to him" probably made some subtle threats. Or worse, this whole thing was a set up for Obama from the start (I'm not that cynical to believe the GOP would stoop THAT low...or am I?)

I honestly thought there would be more yes votes from the Republicans in the final tally today but the signs show that the GOP has proudly dug their heels on this in the name of right-wing unity. The only problem-the public seems to support the plan. So what can the Republicans gain by this? They are now forced to hope the economy continues to tank. Doesn't sound like a "country first" plan to me.
Proud member of RepublicansforObama.org

Izzy Buffalo, NY (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 11:05 AM)

CNN is just reporting that Nelson, Collins & Specter don't want this bill to succeed by a large margin and will cast their votes so it only passes with the necessary 60 votes. What a bunch of lemmings! Can the ENTIRE Repubublican Party be so out of touch with the American people that they are willing for the economy to go further into the dump and for many more Americans to lose their jobs? Do they seriously think that ONLY Democrats are on unemployment? I love how they are self-destructing. I wish them well.

Diane from Illinois

Snowe, Collins, and Specter aren't Republicans. Sure, there's an R behind their names, but if we wrote 'Dump Truck' behind their names, that wouldn't mean they were really dump trucks either. It's not clear what kind of stupid game these three are playing. If they want to be Democrats, then by all means, switch parties, let's make it official. If they want to be Republicans, then they should start acting like it. Right now it's not clear what they are, what they want, or who they are.

If this is the kind or representation Maine and Pennsylvania want, I wish those two states a lot of luck, because they're going to need it.

Chris Haynes, NYC (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 11:07 AM)

"To reduce bills rushed through Congress and to the president before the public has the opportunity to review them, Obama "will not sign any non-emergency bill without giving the American public an opportunity to review and comment on the White House website for five days."

Promise is before he signs it, not before Congress approves it. Get the facts straight before you critize.

angela, nj (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 11:07 AM)

To reduce bills rushed through Congress and to the president before the public has the opportunity to review them, Obama "will not sign any non-emergency bill without giving the American public an opportunity to review and comment on the White House website for five days."

Promise is before he signs it, not before Congress approves it. Get the facts straight before you critize.
------------------------------------------------
Then what's the point, angela? If you post it online before the vote, citizens have time to read it and can convey their support/non-support to their Congressmen. It doesn't matter how many people oppose this thing and comment on the WH website; it's still going to be signed into law.

Claire (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 11:15 AM)

now if Minnesota had a Senator this could be much clearer......

frustrated in MN (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 11:18 AM)

Happy Birthday Darwin!

Evolving (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 11:22 AM)

All of a sudden everyone wants to read the bill. You had the last 8 years to read what the repuke and Bush baby were doing and you didn't, that is why Pres. Obama has requested money for education which we all should support for your benefit so you can be able to read the bill.

True Blue To Ga (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 11:22 AM)

Have you idiots even bothered to read this bill or are you just believing what the media tells you to?
----------------------------------------------------
Ridgelon, not to worry, they just get all their info from Keith Olbermann - no need to bother with facts. It's the same way they decided who to vote for in the fall.

Lon Ridge (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 11:23 AM)

Why won't Ted Kennedy be voting?

Donna, Redway,CA (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 11:47 AM)

The talking points.
Each day the conservatives talk show host are stating the same talking points. Many are now showing up on this blog. The talking points start in the mornings and go on all day and night. It is as if every conservative talk show host is briefed and scripted each day. The host repeats exactly the same message and has very little if any diversions from the main topic. Most times, they even use each other’s phrasing. The daily message is a barrage of propaganda constantly pounding the listener. If a phrase is repeated often enough and by different people, suddenly it becomes fact. There is no need to be factual, just include some near truths and the statements become believable.
Where is Will rogers when you need him?

TEC-Spring-TX (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 11:50 AM)

Golly it looks like big government won....Were all going to have to bail out some of these big spending states who just continue to spend....These jobs now have me convinced that we will all be working for the government and the private sector will continue to slide.while government grows......Again someone tell me what i can do with that 13 dollars besides where the sun dont shine This is an insult when state and government increase the cost of fees and service. So keep your money ...Government service continues to go up state also and we cant even pay for those increases in service.....this is like a nightmare and i dont ever see us waking up...I think the president is sincere but the elite in washington wont change......Mr Reid took could care of himself with and 8billion stimulus just to get people to Vegas....Washington took a good pay increase more than the 13dollars were getting and there office exp more than doubled from the last year...Mr schuler feels the American people love pork, what planet is he from, hes all show, since hillary isnt around...Disappointed in Hardball with Pelosi she should have come before ordinary people for the interview and listen to frustration of the American people.....All this money is government, i do have a sincere question if this stimulus stops the layoffs whats going to happen to those already laid offs the money from the stimulus is used to halt the layoffs there wont be money for them will there...Thank you washington for the mess both parties created..Now we have three Republican senators who will hold the Democrats hostage on many bills yet to come.....I want to know whos going to make sure this money is spent where it should go and not in the General Account.Again Washington doesnt really give a hoot about the american people. they continue to milead ous and do there back door deals. at leastI get to vent and hope some how they get the message...But i really doubt it. When are the American people going to get off there couches with the tv changer and change washington or at least take it back for the American people.....The constitution says we the people not we the politicians who no longer work for ous.

Russell Fox Wells, Me (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 11:51 AM)

I don't understand why our people in Washington do not at least consider sending out substantial stimulus checks to working people in this country who really need the bailout. Make them accountable in some way in which they pay off debt. When millions of Americans have debt relief, more take home pay, or able to put some in savings it would make an enormous difference. Not only would it change outlook instantly, but it would also create new demand for various products. Then change/correct lending practices for homes/credit cards, etc. So people cannot get back into the same mess. Give millions of Americans the chance to turn this around, not the few who already are financially secure and I guarantee will not cause as big a reversal in the economy. It is time to think differently and out of the box! Thanks

Think out of the box for a change (Tennessee) (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 11:56 AM)

You know what's funny? Is if you frame this debate not as Dem vs. Rep, yet rather through the perspective of Liberty, no honest American could support this thing.

If you understand that Anything that Restricts or Limits Competition within the Economy Impedes upon the Expansion of Liberty. Anything which Crowds Out Private Money Impedes upon the Expansion of Liberty. Anything wich Restricts Property Rights Impedes upon the Expansion of Liberty. Then you cannot support this largest expansion of government 'central planning' in several generations. All under the guise of "crisis". The governemnt is using fear to play us like a fiddle ...

Sarbanes-Oxley and The Gulf of Tonkin are two examples of the government responding quickly and poorly.

Two Party Greed is Destroying this Nation.

Governement Needs to be Viewed with Great Suspicion, not with Great Admiration!

If you Support this Bill, then you Do Not Understand Liberty.
If you are Opposed to this Bill, then you Understand Liberty.

No Middle Ground folks!

Check Me On This (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 12:03 PM)

Is there no Republican in the Senate with enough decency to step forward and say that they will not be voting so as to respect Senator Kennedy, and his medical condition, and negate the effect of his absence?
------------------------------------------------
What would that do? Not voting still wouldn't help them get to 60. Besides, he probably has a woman to drown or something, that's not as important as voting.

Barney (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 12:06 PM)

The House and Senate versions of the bill are on the web for anyone who wants to read them. There are differences between them but they are mostly the same.
Go the the Library of Congress web site and search for H.R.1 by bill number.
http://thomas.loc.gov
It's not light reading but maybe all you people complaining will get a clue that spouting words like socialism doesn't make much sense when you see where the money is going.
Happy reading :-)

David, CA (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 12:09 PM)

The Republicans need to realize they LOST the election. They have 2 choices - THIS bill or NO bill. Everyone, EXCEPT these guys, realize that THIS bill is the lesser of the evils.

Tom S, Altoona, PA (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 12:11 PM)

The rebpublicans remind me of a story that I heard as a child about sowing and gathering food.

Who will help me till the soil? I wont.

Who will help me plant the seeds? I wont

Who will help me water the feilds? I wont

Harvest time comes;

Who will help me harvest the crops? I wont

Who will help me eat the food?

They all answered I will!

This is what is happening to this stimulas package and the people are obstructing the passage and attempting to hold us hostage with tired tax cuts. They will benefit from iy, eat wll off of it and continue to complain while they stay on welfare.

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 12:15 PM)

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