Both Mississippi senators vote against stimulus

The Mississippi Press, 2/11/9

By a 61-37 vote Tuesday, the Senate passed an $838 billion stimulus bill blending government spending and tax breaks in a package that backers hope will revive the sick economy. The legislation got no support, however, from Alabama and Mississippi lawmakers.

Like most Republicans, all four senators voted against the bill. In statements issued afterward, they questioned both the plan’s price tag and its odds of working. Approval has been a top priority for President Barack Obama, who says the package will save or create 4 million jobs.

Thad Cochran, R-Oxford, also expressed doubts about the package: “I disagreed with the amount of spending proposed and the failure to provide incentives to stimulate the economy.”