President Defends Stimulus Package
By: Mark Moseley
Updated: February 9, 2009
In a prime time press conference, President Barack Obama made a push for urgent action on his massive economic rescue plan. Faced with the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, the President took full advantage of his news conference, prodding Congress to pass the 800-billion dollar plus stimulus package.
President Obama had hoped the plan- with its mix of tax cuts and new spending- would win broad bi-partisan support. Instead, the bill squeaked through a test vote in the Senate with the backing of just three Republicans.
The President wants the stimulus package on his desk by this weekend. The Senate takes a final vote tomorrow, but then must iron out significant differences with the House version.
Faced with so much Republican resistance in Washington, President Obama heads back to the nation’s heartland tomorrow, hoping to rev up public support for the stimulus.
