Senate Passes Revised Stimulus Bill

WASHINGTON — The Senate passed an economic rescue plan today that would speed rebates of between $600 and $1,200 to most taxpayers and $300 checks to low-income people, including disabled veterans and the elderly.The 81-16 vote capped more than a week of political maneuvering that ended only when majority Democrats dropped their demand that the proposal offer jobless benefits, heating aid for the poor, and tax breaks for certain industries.Republican senators blocked those ideas, but agreed to add the rebates for older people and disabled veterans to a $161 billion measure the House passed last month.House leaders said they would act as early as tonight to send the measure to President Bush.The Senate plan would rush rebates — $600 for individuals, $1,200 for couples — to most taxpayers and cut business taxes in hopes of reviving the economy. Individuals making up to $75,000 a year and couples earning up to $150,000 would get rebates.People who paid no income taxes but earned at least $3,000 — including through Social Security or veterans’ disability benefits — would get a $300 rebate.The bill had stalled for more than a week in the Senate. The turnaround came after Democrats fell just one vote short yesterday of overcoming a Republican filibuster and pressing ahead with their $205 billion plan.Democrats decided today against insisting on their package. Instead, they agreed to speed the bipartisan measure, costing about $167 billion, to Mr. Bush.“It’s our responsibility to pass the strongest bill that we can, and so I think it’s tremendous what we’ll be able to accomplish,” the majority leader, Senator Reid, Democrat of Nevada, said. “We had to finish this quickly.”The retreat came after Speaker Pelosi sided with Republicans, including the minority leader, Senator McConnell of Kentucky. Ms. Pelosi urged the Senate to stop its infighting and pass the bill.“There’s no reason for any more delay on this,” Ms. Pelosi said.

Senate Passes Revised Stimulus Bill

Senate Passes Revised Stimulus Bill

More from the New York Sun

How Dallas Cowboys Undrafted Rookie Shiyazh Pete United the Navajo Nation at Phoenix

Postal Service Awaits Supreme Court Ruling Ahead of New Mail Voting Requirements, Federal Access to State Voter Rolls

Billy Idol Still Has Some Rebel Yell To Give

Jaguar Still Can’t Seem To Turn the Corner

‘10 Kilos’ Gets Weighed Down by Familiar Genre Fare

‘The Marching Band’ Plays a Familiar Tune, But With Spirit and Social Awareness

USS Doris Miller

Johnson Warns Kushner Not To ‘Bet Against’ House Republicans After President’s Son-in-Law Meets With Jeffries

More from the New York Sun

How Dallas Cowboys Undrafted Rookie Shiyazh Pete United the Navajo Nation at Phoenix

Postal Service Awaits Supreme Court Ruling Ahead of New Mail Voting Requirements, Federal Access to State Voter Rolls

Billy Idol Still Has Some Rebel Yell To Give

Jaguar Still Can’t Seem To Turn the Corner

‘10 Kilos’ Gets Weighed Down by Familiar Genre Fare

‘The Marching Band’ Plays a Familiar Tune, But With Spirit and Social Awareness

USS Doris Miller

Johnson Warns Kushner Not To ‘Bet Against’ House Republicans After President’s Son-in-Law Meets With Jeffries