Obama Heads To Florida As Senate Votes On Stimulus

WASHINGTON -- When the U.S. Senate today approves its version of a massive economic stimulus package, Republican senator Mel Martinez, like most of his Senate and Florida GOP colleagues, won’t be supporting it.

But anticipating the Senate passage of its $838 billion bill, President Obama has chosen economically hard-hit Fort Myers for an appearance today to urge House and Senate leaders to overcome their differences and agree on a final package that can become law.

Obama says the recovery bill is desperately needed to help pull the country out of its economic crisis.GOP Gov. Charlie Crist, who is backing the president’s efforts, will introduce Obama at today’s event.

Yet, Martinez’ expected vote will finalize and underscore that all of Tampa Bay’s and Florida’s Republican federal lawmakers oppose their respective chambers’ versions of the bill, though they will have been unable to help prevent passage.

“In the end, I cannot support the stimulus package because it doesn't stimulate,” explained Martinez through a spokesman.

But three other Republican senators – Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe of Maine, and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania – are expected to join 58 Democrats to help reach the 60-vote threshold needed to cut off debate and pass the chamber’s $838 billion bill.

The time has come for action, says Florida’s Democratic Senator, Bill Nelson.

“I believe the government has to do something to get us out of the economic tailspin – and, doing nothing isn’t an option,” said Nelson.

House and Senate staffers are already discussing how to arrive at a final version of the bill that can be agreed upon by both chambers. However, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi signaled that she is not happy that the Senate stripped from its version some of the spending contained in the House bill passed last week.

Last week, GOP Reps. Adam Putnam of Bartow, C.W. Bill Young of Indian Shores and Gus Bilirakis of Palm Harbor all voted against the House bill – in fact, no House Republicans supported it. Republican Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite of Brooksville also said she opposed the bill, though she missed the vote, citing a family emergency.

Like their GOP colleagues from across the country, the Tampa Bay Republicans cast the House bill as a long-term spending spree that may not produce the jobs or results promised.
The area’s only Democratic House member, Kathy Castor of Tampa, voted for it.

Later in the week, Martinez signaled his own intention to oppose the Senate version while speaking on the Senate floor.

He announced that he was dropping out of negotiations over the bill, saying “there appears to be no avoiding the terrible spending this bill has become.”

The senator, through a spokesman Monday night, said he remained concerned that the plan falls well short of providing the timely, targeted, and temporary stimulus the economy needs to recover.

“The state of Florida is in dire need,” said Martinez. “We are going through the most difficult time I can remember in my adult life. Unemployment is nearly double digits. Every corner of the state is suffering from the foreclosure crisis.”

“I wonder just how much of this bill will spend out in the next two years and how much will spend out after that,” said Martinez.

But Nelson sees things differently and has been pushing for passage of the bill.

“I’ve been listening to the folks back home in Florida, where the economic pain has been especially acute, and where we’re second only to California in the number of home foreclosures,” said Nelson, through a spokesman.

“It’s clear, based on what folks are saying, that we need to fix the problems caused by this economic crisis, and get the banks to start lending again,” Nelson said.