Reid: Stimulus bill to be delayed

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- U.S. Senate Democrats say they have dropped plans for a full-scale economic stimulus bill to be introduced in next week's lame-duck session of Congress.

Instead, they will hold off until after U.S. President-elect Barack Obama is sworn in Jan. 20 and a new Congress is seated to push for a stimulus bill that could include as much as $150 billion. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Democrats will aim for a more modest measure calling for a $25 billion bailout of the U.S. auto industry in the lame-duck session, The Washington Post reported Saturday.

That proposal, however, is opposed by congressional Republicans, who are against extending funds approved for a rescue of the U.S. financial industry to the Detroit automakers, the newspaper said.

Reid blamed opposition from Republicans and President George Bush for forcing the decision to put off the larger effort, in which Democrats are seeking to extend unemployment benefits, prop up the auto industry help, send aid to the states and fund infrastructure spending, the Post said.