Senate appropriators voted 21-9 along party lines today to send the proposed economic stimulus bill to the Senate floor, setting it up for a possible vote by the end of the week.
Senate Appropriations Chairman Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, entertained little discussion on amendments, telling senators to propose their amendments once the bill reaches the Senate floor.
Most of the Republicans voting yes on the $365 billion proposal said they did so only to further debate and adhere to committee rules, not to endorse the components of the stimulus. Only Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, voted without adding an explanation to her vote. That means the bill may meet with significant resistance from Republicans in both the House and Senate unless changes to the current proposed bill are made.
A Senate Appropriations staffer said a copy of the proposed bill will be up on the committee’s Web site Wednesday.
