STIMULUS BILLS | Comparing House, Senate versions

A comparison of the economic recovery plan drafted by Senate Democrats and President Barack Obama with the version passed by the House.

Spending

AID TO POOR AND UNEMPLOYED:

Senate — $47 billion to provide extended unemployment benefits through Dec. 31, increased by $25 a week, and provide job training; $16.5 billion to increase food stamp benefits by 12 percent through fiscal 2011 and issue a one-time bonus payment; $3 billion in temporary welfare payments.

House — Comparable extension of unemployment insurance; $20 billion to increase food stamp benefits by 14 percent; $2.5 billion in temporary welfare payments; $1 billion for home heating subsidies and $1 billion for community action agencies.

DIRECT CASH PAYMENTS

Senate — $17 billion to give one-time $300 payments to Social Security recipients, poor people on Supplemental Security Income, and veterans receiving disability and pensions.

House — $4 billion to provide a one-time additional Supplemental Security Income payment to poor elderly and disabled people of $450 for individuals and $630 for married couples.

INFRASTRUCTURE

Senate — $46 billion for transportation projects, including $27 billion for highway and bridge construction and repair and $11.5 billion for mass transit and rail projects; $4.6 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers; $5 billion for public housing improvements; $6 billion for clean and drinking water projects.

House — $43 billion for transportation projects, including $30 billion for highway and bridge construction and repair and $12 billion for mass transit, including $7.5 billion to buy transit equipment such as buses; $31 billion to build and repair federal buildings and other public infrastructures; $19 billion in water projects; $10 billion in rail and mass transit projects.

HEALTH CARE:

Senate — $26 billion to subsidize health care insurance for the unemployed under the COBRA program; $87 billion to help states with Medicaid; $24 billion to modernize health information technology systems; $5.8 billion for preventative care; $3.5 billion for health research and construction of National Institutes of Health facilities; $870 million to combat flu.

House — $40 billion to subsidize health care insurance for the unemployed under the COBRA program or provide health care through Medicaid; $87 billion to help states with Medicaid; $20 billion to modernize health information technology systems; $4 billion for preventative care; $1.5 billion for community health centers; $420 million to combat avian flu; $335 million for programs that combat AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases and tuberculosis.

EDUCATION

Senate — $79 billion in state fiscal relief to prevent cuts in education aid and provide block grants; $26 billion to school districts to fund special education and the No Child Left Behind K-12 law; $19.5 billion for school modernization; $14 billion to boost the maximum Pell Grant by $400 to $5,250; $2.1 billion for Head Start.

House — Similar aid to states and school districts; $21 billion for school modernization; $16 billion to boost the maximum Pell Grant by $500 to $5,350; $2 billion for Head Start.

NEW TAX CREDIT

House— About $145 billion for $500 per-worker, $1,000 per-couple tax credits in 2009 and 2010. For the last half of 2009, workers could expect to see about $20 a week less withheld from their paychecks starting around June. Millions of Americans who don’t make enough money to pay federal income taxes could file returns next year and receive checks. Individuals making more than $75,000 and couples making more than $150,000 would receive reduced amounts.

Senate — The credit would phase out quicker for families making more than $150,000, reducing the cost to $142 billion.

EXPANDED CHILD CREDIT

House — $18.3 billion to give greater access to the $1,000 per-child tax credit for the working poor in 2009 and 2010. Under current law, workers must make at least $12,550 to receive any portion of the credit. The change eliminates the floor, meaning more workers who pay no federal income taxes could receive checks.

Senate — Sets a new income threshold of $6,000 to receive any portion of the credit, reducing the cost to $10.5 billion.

EXPANDED EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT

House — $4.7 billion to increase the earned-income tax credit — which provides money to the working poor — for families with at least three children.

Senate — Same.

Source: Associated Press

EXPANDED COLLEGE CREDIT: