The Senate passed the $838 billion stimulus bill crafted to curb widespread recessionary pressures through tax cuts and government spending on Tuesday morning with a 61-37 vote.
The three graphs compare the House’s $819 billion and the Senate’s $838 billion stimulus bills, and how money has been allotted within the bills.
One of the largest changes made by the Senate to the House’s bill was the $40 billion reduction in funds that would go directly to aid the states, many of which are facing serious budget crunches. The house’s bill passed last month.
In response to its growing budget deficit, California has resorted to scaling back on spending, laying off state employees and forcing its remaining workers to take unpaid time off.
While the much of the direct aid has been cut out of the bill, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) — one of the senators who helped craft the revised version of the bill — said the states will also be helped by indirect aid stemming from the bill. One example she gave was the bill’s proposed $87 billion directed to help match the states’ Medicaid costs, which will free up state monies to go toward other areas.
The bill passed with minimal Republican support. Only three Republicans — Sens. Susan Collins, Olympia J. Snowe and Arlen Specter — voted for the bill.
President Obama hopes to sign the final bill before Monday.