$146 Billion Stimulus Plan Passes House

It would add $161.3 billion to the economy this year and $34.4 billion next year. The Senate plan would cost $150.5 billion over 10 years.

That bill has caused some rancor of its own, especially the provision that would lift the House's income eligibility limits. "To take off the caps causes me to want to gag," said Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.). He said other Democratic senators have let Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) know about their own "gag reflexes."

But the idea of allowing poor seniors to receive payments has powerful appeal. Collins said her offices in Maine have been flooded by calls from retirees demanding to know why the House package leaves them out.

Senators from both parties want to make more changes, including the addition of housing provisions, food-stamp extensions, money for infrastructure and even amendments that would make Bush's first-term tax cuts permanent.

Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) says she has the votes to extend renewable energy tax credits worth as much as $6.2 billion over two years. Collins, Sen. Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) and Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) will join five Democrats today to demand the inclusion of $3.6 billion in heating assistance for the poor. Snowe said she will also support an amendment by Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) that would grant disabled veterans the tax payment.

"I understand the need for speed, but that doesn't mean the people in the United States Senate don't get their input," Snowe said.

Baucus defended his approach, saying it would be simpler and fairer to give $500 to almost everyone, including more than 20 million retirees who pay no income taxes because they do not earn $3,000.

"The House rebate measure is extremely complicated," he said. "People will be so confused. They won't know what their rebate check is . . . and they'll be very upset when their neighbors are getting a little more in a check than somebody else."

Reid plans to bring up the House bill, then allow Baucus to offer the Finance Committee bill as a substitute, a move that would probably require 60 votes. McConnell has been leaning hard on Republicans to oppose the committee's plan, force a quick vote on the House bill and send it to Bush by the weekend.

"I can safely say that a significant majority of my conference thinks that Speaker Pelosi and Congressman Boehner did a pretty good job and are persuaded that this is one of those rare instances in which we ought to rise above ourselves and do something quickly," he said.

Staff writer Peter Baker contributed to this report.