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Senators reach deal on US stimulus bill
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-02-07 12:43


US Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) (R) arrives with Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT) (C) and Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN) (L) to meet with the rest of Democratic caucus about a compromise deal on President Barack Obama's economic stimulus bill at the US Capitol in Washington February 6, 2009. [Agencies]

Just Enough Support

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus said the compromise plan would pass with the support of three or four Republicans in the 100-member chamber -- a far cry from the broad bipartisan backing Obama had originally hoped for.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell denounced the pact and predicted it would do little to stem the recession.

"No action is not what any of the Republican colleagues that I know are advocating, but most of us are deeply skeptical that this will work," McConnell said.

Republican Senator John McCain, whom Obama defeated in last year's presidential campaign while promising to work with Republicans, scoffed at the measure and Obama's vow.

"You can call it a lot of things but bipartisan isn't one of them," McCain said.