WASHINGTON — Trying to build support for his $825-billion economic stimulus plan before a crucial vote, President Obama traveled to Capitol Hill on Tuesday but continued to meet a stubborn wall of complaints from Republicans that the cost of the package was unacceptable.
Republicans praised Obama for listening to their concerns, but many said afterward that they would not support the proposal.
The House is set to vote on the package today. There seemed little chance that Republicans, who lack sufficient numbers, could have much effect on the plan before it headed to the Senate.
Asked if the session with Obama had swayed votes, Rep. C.W. "Bill" Young (R-Fla.) said, "I doubt that. This package has his brand on it, and I don't think he's prepared to change much."
"I don't think too many Republicans are going to vote for this stimulus package because most of us don't believe it will work," Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Tulare) said after emerging from the meeting with the president.
Still, Obama appeared to be trying to pressure Republicans to get aboard.
"The main message I have is that the statistics every day underscore the urgency of the economic situation. The American people expect action," Obama said between separate meetings with House and Senate Republicans.
"There are some legitimate philosophical differences with parts of my plan that the Republicans have, and I respect that," Obama said. "I don't expect 100% agreement from my Republican colleagues, but I do hope that we can all put politics aside and do the American people's business right now."
But as Obama made the rounds on Capitol Hill, waves of energized Republicans hit the cable airwaves and rolled out news releases condemning the plan. They argued that the package contained too much government spending on infrastructure and on other projects, and not enough tax cuts.
And despite Obama's attempts to reach out, they complained that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) had locked them out of the legislative process.
"Unfortunately, the bill House Democrats are bringing to the floor this week was not developed under any spirit of bipartisanship, and we see the result: an $825-billion omnibus spending package that will do more to satisfy a spending agenda than create jobs in America," said Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.).
