WASHINGTON–Now that President Barack Obama has cleared his first major political hurdle with the passage of the $787 billion economic stimulus bill, the success is being met with strong applause from the Congressional Black Caucus.
WASHINGTON–Now that President Barack Obama has cleared his first major political hurdle with the passage of the $787 billion economic stimulus bill, the success is being met with strong applause from the Congressional Black Caucus.
“This package will help businesses create jobs and families afford their bills while laying a foundation for future economic growth in key areas like health care, clean energy, education and a 21st century infrastructure,” says U. S. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.
The extensive bill passed the Senate Friday night 60-38 only hours after passing the House 246-183 with clear party lines.
Though Obama appeared to try hard to win a bipartisan agreement, the result is clearly a defeat for past Republican policies.
“The disastrous economic policies of the previous administration – including irresponsible tax cuts for the wealthy and the war in Iraq and deregulation of the financial industry – have left our nation in shambles,” Lee says in a statement. “Millions of people are living in poverty without health insurance, and unemployment is through the roof…Our communities of color have been especially hard hit – and it’s only getting worse,” she said, calling the bill “a positive step in the right direction for our country.”
The President was expected to sign the bill in Denver on Tuesday.
House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn describes the new plan as “bold action that President Obama called for. It will create and save 3.5 million jobs, cut taxes for 95 percent of American workers and strategically transform our economy for years to come.”
But the mission is daunting, he concedes.
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