In a partial victory for President Barack Obama, the House of Representatives passed his $825 billion economic stimulus package 244-188 Wednesday evening, with the vote falling along party lines.
?It's a bill designed to put Americans back to work, with tax relief for 95 percent of all Americans, tax cuts for job-creating businesses and job-creating projects to rebuild our crumbling roads and bridges,? says Majority Leader Rep. Steny Hoyer.
Despite reaching out to the Republican critics in the days preceding the House vote, President Obama failed to sway any GOP lawmakers to vote for the plan. Republicans insist that the stimulus plan is bloated with earmarks and does not leave enough room for tax cuts. Under the proposal, two-thirds of the funds will be allocated for spending, and a third for tax cuts.
?We think there's a better way,? says Minority Leader Rep. John Boehner. ?Our fast-acting tax relief that we'll be offering here soon really will reduce tax rates on the American people, reduce taxes on small businesses and get our economy moving.?
However, Republicans were not the only opponents to Obama?s financial rescue package. Eleven Democrats also voted against the bill.
Now, the bill heads to the Senate.