House Passes $819 Billion Stimulus Bill

By Mike Lillis 1/28/09 6:29 PM

The vote was 244 to 188, with no Republicans supporting the bill.

Repeat: Zero Republicans voted for the bill.

That, of course, means that all the efforts of President Barack Obama to reach out to Republicans — the trips to the Capitol, the invitations to the White House, the lunches with GOP leaders, the dinners with GOP pundits, the decision to cut out controversial bankruptcy and reproductive-health provisions and particularly the much-more-than-symbolic gesture of including $275 billion in tax rebates — were for naught.

For a president who campaigned on a platform of business-as-unusual bipartisan cooperation, it must be a hard blow.

A noble goal? Sure.

Still, who ever thought that it was a goal that Republicans shared?

(Right — no one.)

After today, the White House won’t either.

Slingshot

Let's go kiteflying after the approval of the stimulus bill - this is to change "the atmosphere" after the much anticipated deliberation.

Karen in Michigan

Congressmen work for the people not President Obama! What do you have to say about the 11 democrats that voted for no?

Working together doesn't necessary mean agreeing. THANK YOU ALL Congressmen that voted no!

And to my two Senators if you vote yes without major revision I will not only not vote for you but I will on principal never vote for a democrat again even if it were Jesus Christ running on the democratic ticket!

Lia

11 Democrats voted against the bill. Now that's something to think about too.

Jay Beau

+Congratulations to the republicans, finally they are doing the right thing. This is one big payback pork laden bill. States will also be discriminated against if they don't tow the liberal line. The president is acting like a dictator, pushing this hastely "or else". The inevitable high inflation, and total dependence on the government, along with the confiscation of our civil liberties, will result in civil unrest. Let's hope that the dismal failure of this policy will result in a huge loss in liberal seats at the next congressional election.

ajm8127

It's like sticking up for someone who you think is your friend, only to have them stab you in the back. Screw 'em. Obviously Obama does not need the house Republicans.

Personally I really wish they would have held on to the family planning measure. How is preventing impoverished people from having unwanted children not good for the economy? (Hint: Tax payers pay for those kid's food and diapers.)

The better question is what are the Republicans in the house going to do now? It seems they don't have much say in...anything.

Tom

go republicans

Lindsay Beyerstein

So much for the theory that stripping the family planning expansion from the stimulus would win over Republicans...

Peter

Serious question: Why is it "playing politics" to want tax cuts instead of spending, but not "playing politics" to want spending instead of tax cuts? Is it "playing politics" to want stem-cell research or close Guantanamo, etc.? Why is it only "playing politics" when Republicans do it?

Porkchopicus_of_Borg

Because Republicans will demonize their ideological opponents. For no other reason than the fact that they disagree.

I'm a disabled veteran, and I can't tell you how many bottles, middle fingers, etc. came my way because of my "Veterans for Kerry" bumper sticker in 2004. If y'all don't want to be accused of playing politics, then drop the drama-queen bullcrap and talk to the other side of the aisle in good faith.

Otherwise, go fly a kite.

Total

Oh Good Lord, man. Take a deep breath and think: who looks more reasonable at this point to the American people?

Obama? Really. Gosh, that's an odd consequence. It's almost as if they foresaw this as one of the possible results.

Nobama

It's simple...get rid of all the pork that the dems loving adding.

Tim

I say, if the Republicans obstruct the Senate vote, if they go 0 again....that's it, add everything we want back in, put in the contraception stuff, take out the tax cuts, then hold a prime time speech by Obama claiming we want to help you, we are trying to pass what will work, but the Republicans won't let us. Explain this is the only thing that can work and we need it and need it fast. Let the Republicans relent or hang themselves and the country.

Quantum

I concur Tim. If the Republicans want to play politics to try to erode Obama's huge popularity, one of the highest levels in fact since Kennedy, then pull out any Republican elements of the bill and push it through.

Let the Republicans come back to the table without the partisan BS at a later date after they are beaten up by voters.

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