Final Stimulus Package Aimed at Jolting Sluggish Economy

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• JUDY WOODRUFF:

  The economic stimulus bill neared final approval in Congress today. The Senate moved to pass the massive plan hours after the House adopted it.

  NewsHour congressional correspondent Kwame Holman has our lead story report.

• KWAME HOLMAN:

  The House had first crack this afternoon, and the outcome was never in doubt.

  REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), Speaker of the House: On this vote, the yeas are 246; the nays are 183; and one voting present. The conference report is adopted. Without objection, a motion to reconsider is laid upon the table.

• KWAME HOLMAN:

  Nearly every Democrat voted yes, but, as with the original House bill last month, not a single Republican backed the final measure.

  Afterward, their leaders had sharply different takes.

• REP. NANCY PELOSI:

  The American people are feeling a great deal of pain. They have uncertainty about their jobs, about health care, about the ability to pay for the education of their children, and, sad to say in our great country, even their ability to put food on the table. And so today we have passed legislation that does take that swift, bold action on their behalf.

  REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R-OH), House Minority Leader: The president made clear when we started this process that this was about jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs. And what it's turned into is nothing more than spending, spending, and more spending. American families, small businesses deserve better from their Congress.

• KWAME HOLMAN:

  Just before the vote, the Congressional Budget Office revised the final cost down slightly to $787 billion.

  In the end, the spending side included: $120 billion for public works projects; $19 billion for health care technology; and almost $50 billion for renewable energy programs.

• In addition:

  nearly $200 billion would go for Medicaid and unemployment benefits; plus, payments of $250 for everyone who gets Social Security.

  The tax side offered President Obama's "make work pay" credit of $400 for individuals and $800 for couples. Other provisions include an $8,000 credit for first-time homebuyers.

  There were scores of other provisions, and overall the bill ran more than 1,000 pages. On the floor, Republicans again insisted too many of those provisions have little to do with the bill's stated purpose.

  REP. JERRY LEWIS (R), California: In the end, funding for roads, highways, flood control measures, and other job-creating infrastructure projects were downsized in order to increase the size and scope of — largely in the House — members' favorite government programs.

  Mr. Speaker, that's not stimulus, that's not job creation, and it certainly isn't what the country needs or deserves at this time of crisis.