Sen. Collins on CNN right now, sounds like she will support an $800 billion package

[Jennicut]

She was "convinced" by the President that this was necessary.

[Aloha Spirit]

1. Obama is rewarding Republicans who cooperate in the spirit of problem-solving.

"A change is gonna come...."

[Aloha Spirit]

4. I appreciated that she pushed for cutting funding in the stimulus bill for items she supports but

doesn't think belong in an economic recovery bill.

"Sen. Susan Collins, in her meeting with Obama, discussed a bipartisan effort she has been working on to trim some of the spending from the stimulus package and focus more on job creation. Several expenditures she specifically mentioned included funds for State Department information technology and for combating a potential outbreak of pandemic flu. She said these things should be paid for through routine legislation and not in the stimulus package."

http://www.bangornews.com/detail/98829.html

[Proud Liberal Dem]

2. One down (how many more to go)?

Is this the reason for his optimism?

[Jennicut]

3. He might get Snowe and Specter as well.

How many does he have right now w/out Franken? He needs a few more to get to 60.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

5. Ah yes, the magical 60-vote threshold

Well, I suppose it would be better to try and get the votes to get it passed without a huge knock-down fight (although if the GOP wants to filibuster it then I say let them!)

[Captain Hilts]

7. We should be sending chocolate, flowers and handsome male escorts to Snowe and Collins...

to become Dems.

Snowe's the brains of that pair, but Collins is more fun at a party.

[Jennicut]

8. LOL.

New England Repubs are a dying breed, we have one for governor here in CT. They are being replaced by Dems. Collins and Snowe are not fools, they want to keep their jobs.

[karynnj]

21. Probably 3

Without Franken, we have 58 - but I'm not sure if Kennedy is healty enough to be there to vote - he hasn't voted on the amendments - but his vote was totally unlikely to be critical. If Kennedy can vote, we need 2 - if we have ALL the Democrats.

[Captain Hilts]

6. Collins and Snowe can't say 'no' to $96m for Maine. nt

[DCBob]

9. The vote is scheduled for late tonight... must mean they are confident they have the votes.

Fingers x'd.

[DCBob]

11. Change that to "expected" -- still a bit more wrangling to go before they schedule the vote..

but "expected" sounds promising too!

[Jennicut]

12. Hmmm, by tonight would be earlier then expected

I wonder what the MSM would say then? Not that I freakin really care.

[Occam Bandage]

10. Collins down. Let's get Snowe on board, and then Specter/Murkowski, then we're golden.

[DCBob]

13. If Collins goes, Snowe won't be far behind.

Need one more, I think, to get to 60 since Franken is still in limbo.

[Jennicut]

16. So Snowe, Collins, and Specter maybe?

[DCBob]

20. That would be my guess -- but if it's clear they have 60...

then I suspect several more moderate R's will come on board -- no reason to risk being seen as anti-Obama anymore.

[AlinPA]

28. re: "several more moderate R's " - who might they be?

[TheCowsCameHome]

14. A rock and a hard place, eh Susan?

hehehehe.

Now be good girl.

[TeamJordan23]

15. If Republicans vote against the stimulus and it ends up working, it is over for their party. nm

[TheCowsCameHome]

17. They are scared to death that it will work.

[DCBob]

18. Perhaps, but the talking point will be the economy fixed itself...

despite or in spite of Obama's efforts. I am sure they are already working on this scenario.

[meli224]

19. I wouldn't be surprised of that either.

but I don't think the American people are stupid enough to believe that. (Well, most of them)

[Parker CA]

23. With sound bites galore that have been spewed out over the past weeks, that argument from the pukes

will not hold any water. They will be seen as self-first rather than country-first and the constituents whose districts receive the money and benefit from it will have proof positive that the pukes are/were full of crapola.

[AlinPA]

27. If they vote against cloture tonight, how could it ever get a chance to work?

That would kill it.

[AlinPA]

22. IMO, the vote for cloture will fail. Republicans want to give Obama a "defeat"

early. Then they will come around later (much later), making it look like they "improved" the bill. Elections are next year, remember.

[Every Man A King]

24. Does everyone understand there is a difference

between voting No and participating in a Filibuster?

[quiller4]

25. She announced her support last night

n/t

[Mass]

26. Yes, she wants to cut funds for education. Because teachers are not workers, and our kids

can learn with less teachers, I guess.

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/
I'm told the group of 'centrist' senators (Collins, Nelson et al.) is meeting at this moment. And the basis of their meeting is a staff paper that was just circulated with a total of $77.9 billion proposed cuts to the existing senate bill.

The biggest hit is on education spending.

A few examples of the recommended cuts ...

$24.786 Billion on "State Stabilization Money"
$15 Billion for "State Incentive Grants"
$6.75 Billion for "IDEA", proposed cut 50%
$6.5 Billion for "Title I Funding", proposed cut 50%

Most of $5 billion from HHS for 'prevention and wellness' programs.

$5.5 Billion "Supplementary Discretionary Grants Program" at HUD Transportation