Senate passes stimulus bill

After days of leading bipartisan negotiations, Sens. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) announced late on Feb. 6 an agreement on an amendment to the Economic Recovery Act now being considered in the Senate. The Nelson/Collins amendment reduces the total cost of the package to $780 billion, which is $110 billion less than the original Senate stimulus bill.

The amendment keeps the highway spending mark at $27 billion plus the additional $5.5 billion proposed for supplemental discretionary grants for surface transportation, including highways. This amendment replaced the entirety of the original bill and all amendments proposed or passed during the Senate's debate of the issue last week.

However, the Nelson/Collins amendment does include two amendments that already passed with broad support: a $15,000 tax credit for 2009 homebuyers and a tax deduction for those who purchase a new car. With these additions, the grand total of the bill rises to $827 billion. "This deal represents a victory for the American people," said Collins. "We came together to tackle the most immediate problem facing the nation." She went on to say, "This bill is not perfect, but it represents a bipartisan, effective and targeted approach to the crisis facing our country."

Yet Republican congressional leaders have expressed misgivings about the stimulus package. Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) and Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) voiced the concerns of many Republicans that the legislation has too much spending and not enough tax cuts.

Consideration of the bill resumed on Feb. 9 with a roll call vote of 61 yea, 36 nay on the motion to cut off debate on the Nelson/Collins amendment. The amendment was passed on Feb. 10 by a vote of 61 to 37. Only three Republicans supported the amendment: Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe of Maine, and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania. Final passage of the Senate stimulus package occurred shortly after on a vote of 61 to 37. Senate conferees named were Sens. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) and Charles Grassley (R-Iowa).

Significant differences exist between the House and Senate versions of the economic stimulus package, primarily over tens of billions of dollars in aid to states and local governments, tax provisions and programs for education, health and renewable energy. For instance, the Senate devotes $27.06 billion to highways, while the House allots $30 billion.

The bill now proceeds to Conference committee to reconcile differences between the two versions. Each chamber will vote on the Conference Report and, if passed, the stimulus will be sent to the president for signature.

NSSGA continues to contact members of the House and Senate to stress the importance of the transportation infrastructure portion of the economic stimulus package to the aggregates industry and urge the highest funding level possible.