Final Stimulus Votes Set Today

Lawmakers have hammered out the final details of the economic stimulus bill and cleared the way for final votes in the House and Senate today, reports Reuters. Both chambers are expected to approve the bill's final version, meeting Barack Obama's deadline of passing the $789 billion package of spending and tax cuts before the holiday weekend.

The House is set to vote on the package this morning, while the Senate will vote in the evening to accommodate a Democratic senator who returned home after the death of a family member. Backers say the bill—expected to be signed into law within days—will create or save 3.5 million jobs, but wrangling over tax cuts sapped GOP support and is believed to have caused Judd Gregg's withdrawal as the commerce secretary nominee.