House Passes Obama 'Stimulus' Bill along Party Lines

The news cycle throughout the day on Wednesday displayed a growing suspicion over the contents of the bill.

WASHINGTON (Catholic Online) - In a vote which showed that bi-partisanship may be hard for the new U.S. President to build, by 244-188 the Democrats pushed an $819 billion stimulus bill through the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday night.

The news cycle throughout the day on Wednesday displayed a growing suspicion over the contents of the bill. In fact, as measures which would have funded everything from federally funded contraception to new sod were stripped, the excitement over the measure, even among its supporters, was replaced by a defensiveness.

Depending upon who one listened to throughout the day on Wednesday, this bill was either a real effort to stimulate the badly ailing U.S. economy or a pork barrel spending bill dressed up as a rescue package.There seemed to be no middle ground.

The unanimous Republican opposition certainly did not demonstrate that a new way of doing business has emerged under this new administration. The ongoing difficult debate even resulted in eleven Democrats rejecting the measure. It also fueled a growing public suspicion over its provisions.

The vote sends this bill to the Senate where the debate will continue.The Democrats have promised it will be ready for the Presidential signature in mid February.

---

'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'