Klobuchar: Stimulus will get Americans back to work
Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar says she is pleased with the compromise worked out on an economic stimulus plan. Senators debated the bill Saturday in advance of Monday's vote on the measure.
The Senate version of the $827 billion bill includes President Barack Obama's tax cut of up to $1,000 for working couples. Also included is a tax credit of up to $15,000 for home buyers and smaller breaks for people buying new cars.
Much of the new spending would be for victims of the recession, in the form of unemployment compensation, health care and food stamps.
Klobuchar said the Senate version puts the focus on getting Americans back to work.
"That is why we really made some changes to this bill. We reduced $100 billion. I didn't like every cut, but we needed to do that. The president wanted us to do it. We took things out like smoking cessation programs. While I am a big fan of those programs and will want them funded in a longer term bill, this was about the immediate creation of jobs," said Klobuchar.
The Senate is expected to approve the bill Monday. But after that the bill is expected to face difficult negotiations with the House.
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