$838 Billion Stimulus Plan Approved

The Senate has voted 61-37 to pass the economic stimulus bill pushed by U.S. President Barack Obama. Three Senate Republicans joined Democrats to pass the bill, after no Republicans voted for a House of Representatives version that passed Jan. 29.

The moderate Republicans senators -- Susan Collins and Olympia J. Snowe of Maine and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania joined all 56 Democrats and two independents in passing the bill.

The new bill now heads to a House-Senate conference to resolve differences between this version and the version passed in the House late last month. President Obama hopes to sign the resulting bill into law before Presidents' Day on Monday.

More on the Stimulus bill:

• Washington Post - Senate Passes Economic Stimulus Bill
• Fox New - Senate Approves $838 Billion Economic Recovery Package
  
• USA Today - Senate passes Obama's economic recovery plan