Specter to House: Stick to Senate Plan

In a statement issued Monday, Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Penn, warned House Democrats that his continued support of the economic stimulus plan making its way through Congress depends on strict adherence to the version passed by the Senate. Specter issued a statement saying that: "My support for the Conference Report on the stimulus package will require that the Senate compromise bill come back virtually intact including, but not limited to, overall spending, the current ratio of tax cuts to spending, and the $110 billion in cuts."

Specter's support for the bill is particularly crucial as legislators from both chambers go to work to craft a final version that can be passed and presented to President Obama. Without at least two Republican votes in the Senate, the measure could get bogged down in procedural hurdles. Specter was one of only three GOP senators to vote for the Senate's bill yesterday.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., claimed to be "shocked" by Specter's stance, according to Roll Call. However, he remains determined to work with Specter and other moderate Republican senators to ensure passage of a final bill, calling the negotiations a "very, very tight calculus."