House approves economic recovery plan, Bush urges Senate to send bill to his desk

CAPITOL HILL (AP) — It has made it through the House unscathed. Now, President Bush says he wants to see a $146 billion economic stimulus package “out of the Senate and on” his desk.

The bill would speed rebates of $600-$1,200 to anyone with at least $3,000 in income. Families with children would get even more.

But after its swift approval in the House, the Senate is sure to prove more of a stumbling block for the legislation. Democrats and some Republicans backed a larger package that adds billions of dollars for senior citizens and the unemployed, and shrinks the rebate to $500 for individuals and $1,000 for couples.

Senator Harry Reid says “there’s 51 Democratic senators without exception who believe this package can be made better.”

But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she hopes the Senate will take the House bill “and run with it.”