UNSTIMULATED

The stimulus does not have enough votes to pass in the Senate -- and senators are scrambling to cut (gut?) the proposed measure. Susan Collins and Ben Nelson, two moderate Republicans, want to eliminate $200 billion from the package. But it appears that lawmakers have already inserted a new provision that makes the legislation more expensive (a new home purchase tax credit). Good luck!

I think it's pretty remarkable that Republicans have been able to hold up the stimulus, despite the sweeping Democratic victory in national and state politics this year. Clearly, some Democrats in the Senate disagree with the package in its current form. And, perhaps the release of a Gallup poll which shows that only 38% of the public supports passage of the legislation in its current format has something to do with the current stalemate.