Mitch McConnell, Republican leader in the Senate, said that with Democrats as well as Republicans in the Senate concerned at the House of Representatives' version of the bill, changes would have to be made. “We ought to go right at the housing problem and right at tax relief to put money in the hands of consumers who can spend it now,” he told CBS.
Mr McConnell's comments – together with those of other senior Senate Republicans – indicate that the stimulus bill is likely to face serious wrangling when debate begins today.
Some Democratic senators have also expressed unease at parts of the $819bn plan the House agreed last week, including earmarks for particular spending projects. The Democrats lack the 60 votes that would enable them to overcome any threat of a Republican filibuster in the 100-member Senate as they did in the House.