Dixon Disses Stimulus

The House and Senate have passed differing versions, so what's next?

• The President continues his p.r push with a Wednesday morning stop in Springfield, Virginia. V.P. Biden talks it up in Pennsylvania.
• The Conference committee goes at it, with Majority Leader Reid saying he hopes he gets the first cut Wednesday.
• Springfield Rep. Bob Dixon, chairman of the House Transportation Committee, releases a statement saying the "trillion dollar borrow-and-spend package" gives him "grave concern." More from Dixon: "As chairman of the House Transportation Committee, my immediate focus has been the amount of funds actually dedicated to transportation and infrastructure, as compared to how the package is being sold. I echo the sentiment recently expressed by U.S. Senator Kit Bond, who pointed out that the 'spending bill shortchanges infrastructure.' Only six percent of the total funds are dedicated to highway surface transportation, and barely more than $45 billion are designated for transportation as a whole. Government should invest in those areas-like infrastructure and education-where future dividends will be greatest. Instead, we're increasing government spending to provide a temporary fix. In Missouri, Governor Nixon has proposed using one- time federal funds to expand annual spending programs, rather than balancing the state budget. We cannot build a solid foundation for prosperity by saddling our grandchildren with enormous debt."
• Sen. Claire McCaskill had this statement: “Everyone was invited to the table when it came to fixing the economic recovery bill – Republicans and Democrats. Several of us showed up and think we came up with a pretty strong alternative – it may not be perfect, but we cut some of the spending and produced a bill that will create jobs and cut taxes for working families."