U.S. House passes stimulus package
Voting mostly along party lines, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a $819 billion stimulus package with a 244-188 vote.
According to a news release issued by U.S. Rep. George Miller, who is chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, the bill would increase Pell Grants by $500 to $5,350 if passed in the Senate, and would also increase Stafford loan limits by $2,000, provide $490 million for work study programs and $6 billion for higher education modernization.
In addition, the bill would provide over $300 billion for state governments to maintain fiscal stability. In his budget proposal, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon estimated that Missouri could receive $809 million from the measure and other federal stimulus.
The Missouri Congressional Delegation was 5-4 against the bills, with all four Democrats supporting the measure, and all five Republicans voting against it.
In a news release, Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-Mo. who represents the state's 9th District, called the measure a spending spree, and said it would cost taxpayers in the 9th District up to $1.8 billion.
“Liberals are trying to force feed this plan to us without any input from Republicans, and that is unfortunate because I believe we must have all sides working together to craft a true stimulus package that creates jobs and provides taxpayer relief,” Luetkemeyer stated in the release. “The American people have a choice between fast-acting tax relief or slow and wasteful government spending.”
According to a news release issued by U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan, D-Mo., who represents the 3rd District, the legislation could create more than 70,000 in Missouri, and more that 150,000 college students in the state would receive more money from the Pell Grant.
“The economy won’t turn around overnight,” Carnahan stated in the release. “America has faced crisis before and turned it into opportunity to create jobs and build the foundation for long-term growth and prosperity.”
In a news release issued by U.S. Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., which contains remarks made by the 4th District representative during floor debate, the Democrat stated that, while the legislation would stimulate the economy, it should not be seen as a "silver bullet" to cure economic uncertainties.
"Congress and the Administration must continue to examine the global economic turmoil and consider additional legislative solutions to it, especially as it relates to the housing sector," Skelton said. " I remain troubled that mortgage foreclosures have risen sharply despite new laws that encourage banks to renegotiate troubled mortgages."