Expanded stimulus plan blocked in Senate

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- The U.S. Senate Wednesday failed to advance its expanded version of an economic stimulus package on a 58-41 vote.

The $158 billion stimulus plan needed 60 votes to advance. The Senate could consider the House-passed $146 billion package instead.

The House package is a bipartisan plan that includes tax rebates, child credits, small-business tax breaks and housing-related proposals. Senate leaders said they wanted to consider the food stamp program and unemployment benefits, among other programs, in a stimulus package.

Since House leaders and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson announced the stimulus plan, President George Bush has been calling on the Senate to act quickly on the package as created by House and administration negotiators.

During a media briefing, White House spokesman Tony Fratto said, "(We) want to have faith that the Senate is going to be able to take up this bill, work through some of the amendments that the senators have, continue their conversations with Secretary Paulson, and get a bill to the president as quickly as possible."