Late Friday, on a day when the Labor Department said the U.S. unemployment rate reached 7.6%, the Senate appeared to have reached a deal on reductions to the economic stimulus package which could lead to a vote as early as tonight.
The stimulus package had grown to $937 billion after senators added new items to it, but President Barack Obama has said he'd accept a deal around $800 billion. The latest reports are that the deal will conclude with a package just shy of $800 billion in size.
Even if the Senate votes on the package, and passes it, tonight, they would still have to reconcile the differences between the previously passed House version of the stimulus package.
Earlier in the day, President Barack Obama said:
“It is inexcusable and irresponsible for any of us to get bogged down in distraction, delay or politics as usual while millions of Americans are being put out of work.”
However, Sen. Harry Reid is, according to news reports on MSNBC, still having trouble selling the reduced package to the full Senate.
If a vote happens, we will have that story as well.
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