Despite strong Republican opposition, an 838 billion US dollar economic stimulus bill, backed by the White House, survived a crucial test vote in the Senate on Monday.
The 838 billion economic stimulus plan has passed the crucial test vote, and Democratic leaders vowed to deliver legislation for President Barack Obama's signature within a few days.
Monday's vote was 61 to 36, one more than the 60 needed to advance the measure toward Senate passage on Tuesday.
That in return, will set the state for possibly contentious negotiations with the House of Representatives on a final compromise on legislation, which the president says is needed desperately totackle the worst economic crisis in more than a generation.
Monday's vote is close, but scarcely in doubt once the White House and Democratic leaders agreed to trim about 100 billion on Friday. As a result, Republican Senator, Susan Collins, broke ranks to cast the vote to advance the bill.
Susan Collins, Republican senator, said, "As with any major legislation this bill is not perfect,but........."
Moments before the vote, the Congressional Budget office issued a new estimate that put the cost at 838 billion, an increase from the 827 billion figure from last week.
Meanwhile, the US Chamber of Commerce, a prominent and powerful business group that often supports the Republicans' conservative financial policies, issued a statement calling on the Senate to advance the bill.
(CCTV February 10, 2009)
