White House spokeswoman Dana Perino complained to reporters a week had passed since the House passed an economic growth package. "And while we understand that senators want to put their own, quote, 'brand,' unquote, on the growth package, we hope they will not treat this as a partisan exercise," she said.

"We call on Congress to pass legislation quickly and get it to the president's desk. Americans are expecting action and every day we wait will delay delivery in relief to businesses and taxpayers, and to give them the certainty that they need."

The House-passed stimulus bill provides tax rebates of $600 for individuals, $1,200 for couples, plus $300 per child, the Washington Post said. It would pump $146 billion into the economy in 2008 and $15 billion in 2009 in a bid to avert or lessen the severity of a recession. Individuals making $75,000 in adjusted gross income, and couples with $150,000 in gross adjusted income would be eligible for the full rebate check.

The Senate version raises the cap on individual eligibility from $75,000 to $150,000, and for couples from $150,000 to $300,000.

Perino acknowledged the Senate is "haggling over important issues," but she said those issues "largely need to be debated outside of an economic growth package." The package is set for a vote in the Senate Wednesday.