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January 29, 2009

House Backs Economic Stimulus
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The House has approved President Obama’s more than $800 billion economic
stimulus package. The vote was entirely on party lines, with not a
single Republican supporting the bill. Obama says the package would
create more than three million jobs. Hours before the vote, Obama met
with corporate leaders at the White House.

President Obama: “As we discussed in our meeting a few minutes ago,
corporate America will have to accept its own responsibilities to its
workers and the American public. But these executives also understand
that without wise leadership in Washington, even the best-run businesses
can’t do as well as they might."

The measure now goes before the Senate with debate beginning on Monday.
The price tag of the Senate version is approaching $900 billion as
senators continue to add earmarks. Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia
has included a provision that would provide $4.6 billion for the coal
industry.