Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

On Stimulus, White House Kept Congress Close

Prez still didn't get much GOP support

By Gabriel Winant, Newser User

Posted Feb 17, 2009 12:36 PM CST

(Newser) – President Obama promised a new spirit of cooperation in Washington, and in his relationship with Congress, he did his best to deliver, the Wall Street Journal reports. Obama left congressional leaders wide leeway in crafting the stimulus bill and stayed in close touch with members. Joe Biden stayed on pivotal senators like Susan Collins, calling her back repeatedly in rural Maine.

When the president sought to mollify centrist senators by hacking out billions, the Congressional Black Caucus revolted in defense of school construction funds. Obama accommodated them, too. But ultimately only a few Republican senators, and no representatives, voted for the bill. The lesson? Says Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel: “He has an open hand, but he has a very firm handshake.”

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (1)]

Led by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, center, lawmakers announce agreement on the $789 billion stimulus, Feb. 11, 2009. Reid is joined by Sen. Susan Collins, left, and Sen. Arlen Specter. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

President Barack Obama kisses Speaker Nancy Pelosi in the Capitol, Feb. 12, 2009. From left are Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., House Minority Leader John Boehner, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

President Obama, and Sen. Evan Bayh walk up the stairs of Air Force One at Michiana Regional Airport in South Bend, Ind., Feb. 9, 2009, leaving a town hall meeting in Elkhart, Ind. (AP Photo/Joe Raymond)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

Don't give me that 'Mr. Vice President.' If you want to call me that in public, fine, but when we're on the phone, it's 'Joe.' - Joe Biden to Sen. Susan Collins

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

House Expects to Clear Payroll Tax Cut Today

Though it's possible dissenting members could delay things

(NEWSER) - The payroll tax cut deal is expected to be ratified today, with congressional leaders planning voice votes that would require just a handful of members to be present, the Washington Post reports. Politico notes that the House will be using unanimous consent rules, however, meaning a dissenting member could force a vote next week. Because of the timing, disapproving members will have a hard time making it back to DC in time, but there are at least two who may object and force House members to return next week. More»

GOP Pulls 'Reverse Braveheart ' on Payroll Tax

Scots got slaughtered, points out Dana Milbank

(NEWSER) - Last night, as the House was on the verge of scuttling the payroll tax cut extension , House Republicans gathered in a Capitol basement to talk—Braveheart? “You, Mr. Speaker, are our William Wallace," one rep has said. "Let’s rush to the fight." Besides being a horrible abdication of responsibility, Dana Milbank, writing in the Washington Post , sees two huge problems with this: 1) House Republicans are a "reverse-Braveheart," clearly more like the oppressive nobles than the overtaxed peasants; and 2) the Scots they want to emulate got slaughtered. More»

Boehner Cancels Payroll Vote

House Republicans revolt, call for conference committee

(NEWSER) - House Republicans didn’t hold their expected vote on the Senate’s two-month payroll tax cut extension last night, a hairpin turn so abrupt that Politico ’s story on it is headlined, “Has John Boehner Lost Control?” The House had planned to vote down the Senate bill and push for a full-year extension, but members objected that doing so would compromise their pledge against voting for tax hikes. Instead, the House will hold a procedural vote this morning to send the matter into a conference committee with the Senate. More»

Congress' Productivity Plunges

Hill approving fewer bills, fewer laws being signed

(NEWSER) - Non-election years are typically productive times for Congress, but not this year. As of last week, the House had passed 326 bills, its fewest in the last 10 non-election years, while the Senate had green-lit 368, its lowest total since 1995, the Washington Post observes. (For comparison, the House passed 970 bills in 2009 and 1,127 in 2007, while the Senate passed 478 and 621.) All of that resulted in 62 signed laws—or 26 fewer than Bill Clinton managed to sign when he faced a new Republican Congress in 1995. More»

Senate Rejects $35B Jobs Bill

Portion of larger American Jobs Act won't move forward

(NEWSER) - President Obama’s first attempt to split his American Jobs Act into smaller bites did not go well: His $35 billion package, intended to protect the jobs of teachers and first responders, was blocked in the Senate last night. Democrats couldn’t get the 60 votes needed to move the bill forward; three members of the Senate Democratic Caucus joined all Republicans to vote against it, resulting in a 50-50 vote blocking a debate on the package. It was one fewer vote than Obama got in the Senate for his full $447 billion proposal, Politico notes. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

On Stimulus, White House Kept Congress Close