Top Democrats Give Longer Timetable for Stimulus Bill

Democrats also provided assurances that the bill would not be saddled with earmarks -- always a danger for a fast-moving piece of must-pass legislation. Hoyer promised a clean House bill, free of "specific items," with the money distributed instead "largely on (a) formula basis." He added, "This is not a bill that we want to see loaded up with earmarks. And that's not our intent."

McConnell applauded the $500 tax credit that Obama has proposed as "the sort of thing we could have bipartisan agreement on," adding: "Republicans, by and large, think tax relief is a great way to get money to people immediately."

In today's meeting, McConnell is expected to propose further tax cuts, including lowering the 25 percent individual tax rate to 15 percent. And he will identify items that Republicans are likely to resist, including the 600,000 new government jobs that are part of a 3 million workforce expansion goal. "That's about the size of the post office workforce," McConnell said on ABC. "Is that a good idea?"

He also challenged a proposal to provide grants to hard-hit states to help them launch school reforms and meet rising Medicaid costs. Such aid should be provided in the form of loans, McConnell said, as "it will make them spend it more wisely."

Nor do Republicans favor a move to extend unemployment benefits to part-time workers while providing health-care coverage for unemployed people -- costly efforts that have met stiff resistance in past debates, because opponents think they would prove impossible to end.

"Those are very big, systemic changes," McConnell said. "Do we in the name of stimulus want to make long-term, systemic changes that will affect spending every single year? I think that's at least worth considering, having hearings about, having bipartisan discussions."

But he also predicted that the bill could pass overwhelmingly if the conciliatory mood holds, giving Obama a crucial first win. "If they pursue a fair process . . . and give both sides an opportunity to have input . . . he's likely to get significant support," McConnell said.