Stimulus package clears Congress

President Barack Obama is calling his newly passed $787 billion stimulus bill a “historic step” in turning the U.S. economy around.
   
But he warns that it’s only the beginning of getting the economy on track. In his weekly radio and Internet address, Obama says the bill will begin making the immediate investments necessary to put people back to work. But he adds that more works lies ahead.
   
The bill passed Congress last night on party lines.
   
In the weekly Republican message, Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski says her party backed a plan that was targeted and would have cost less—but Democrats disagreed. She adds that the new measure places new burdens on state and local governments, which are already facing financial challenges.