6 Nov 2008

Speaker seeks quick economic stimulus passage

3:26 pm on 6 November 2008

The House of Representatives Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, has urged passage of at least $US61 billion in funding for new economic stimulus measures in the United States this month.

Ms Pelosi has already called for about $US150 billion to create construction jobs, give more aid to the states and increase assistance for the poor and the unemployed.

However, she said on Wednesday that she would settle, at least for now, for passage of a $US61 billion package that the House passed in late September. It was blocked in the Senate.

Ms Pelosi said she hoped it would be taken up in a lame duck session, but she said the legislation requires the cooperation of Republicans in the Senate and President George Bush.

The Democratic Party is hoping for economic impetus before president-elect Barack Obama is sworn into office as the 44th president of the United States on 20 January.