The spin cycle is in overdrive this morning as the Senate tries to find a way to do the right thing in a stimulus package. Most Senate Republicans, pushed hard by the White House, refused to budge in last night’s vote by allowing seniors to be included in any stimulus plan .
Today’s Roll Call summed it up this way:
“’I think it’s decided. I think the Senate will just pick up the House plan,” said Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), who ripped the GOP. 'They don’t blink to spend an extra dollar in Iraq, but if you ask them to spend an extra dollar in America they all cave.’ Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), whose home state has been hard hit by unemployment, blamed last-minute pressure from the White House for the defeat. ‘The White House put incredible pressure on them,' she said. Stabenow said it would be 'very difficult to come up with a new package this week given the need for unanimous consent to avoid restarting time-consuming procedural maneuvers.’”So, now the Senate will have to punt. Members can take the President’s way and vote only on the House stimulus plan, leaving seniors out once again. It can take up last night’s Senate version one more time or consider only amendments to give seniors and veterans another shot at being included in this economic stimulus plan.
Senate leaders are meeting this morning while 20 million seniors sit in stimulus limbo rethinking their votes come November.
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