I guess I should have said the stimulus not the bail out.
I know Cilla, I have panic attacks when I think of the "bail out"
The Whatever bill is far from a done deal. Once the Senate passes it, likely tomorrow, it still has to go to Conference - and then the fun begins. Although the House and Senate bills are within pennies (well, $7,000,000,000.00) of each other, the split between spending and tax cuts is dramatic; the Senate version has ~$100B more in tax cuts and ~$80 less in spending. One compromise would raise the total spending figure (the House agreeing to accept the tax cuts if their spending is restored) - which version would probably lose the three Rep Sens needed to pass the final version. Indeed, the only bill likely to get final Senate approval is just about what they have now, which would require a total capitulation by the House - which their members might agree on, but Speaker Pelosi unlikely to allow to come to a vote.
The House and the Senate could, in fact, deadlock and there will be NO bill. And that will not displease some people.
der Brucer
IMHO - It's ironic that the Senate bill removes all spending in support of education construction and expansion of Broadband access - the very few areas that it is fair to burden future generations with the bill. Also, expanding Pell grants and increasing tax credits for college tuition is of no value in states like CA which are already cutting enrollment opportunities for folks who can already pay
