Senate: Outlook Dim for Democrats’ Stimulus Package

As the Senate began a lame duck session, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Nov. 17 proposed a $100.3-billion economic-stimulus bill, with about $23 billion for infrastructure work. But in a sign that the plan faces long odds, Reid also said he has a smaller backup plan, without public-works aid.

The $100.3-billion bill has $10 billion for highways, $2.5 billion for transit, $2.5 billion for wastewater treatment and drinking-water projects, $2.5 billion for schools and $900 million for Corps of Engineers civil works.

Some Republicans, cool toward a public-works stimulus, may block the bill. Reid’s Plan B only has an extension for unemployment benefits and $25 billion in loans to auto­makers. President-elect Barack Oba­ma says a stimulus bill will be his first act on taking office.