One controversial provision in the House economic stimulus package is already dead: $200 million for the National Mall.
National Park Service spokesman Jeffrey Olson told Federal Times’ Gregg Carlstrom the money would have been used to shore up the Tidal Basin wall near the Jefferson Memorial, which is sinking into the Basin.
But that won’t happen right now. The House Rules Committee met Tuesday evening to set rules for floor debate for HR 1, the stimulus package, and adopted the following provision: “4. strikes funding for the National Mall Revitalization Fund.” The rule is self-executing, which means it will automatically become part of the bill when the House approves rules Wednesday.
The House convened at 10 a.m. today and will take up the stimulus package shortly.
