With the Economic Stimulus bill having passed the US House of Representatives but with not one Republican supporter, the bill now goes to the US Senate.
The hope is that some Republican senators will give their backing to some version of the bill acceptable to the Democratic majority in both houses and to President Obama. One can imagine the possibility that at least a few–Susan Collins of Maine, Olympia Snowe of Maine, Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, and George Voinovich of Ohio–might give their weight in support of the bill and therefore promote bipartisanship. Also, it can be hoped that some other GOP senators might surprise the country and also support the bill and that this will prompt some GOP House members to give their support after the conference committee report is drawn up in a couple of weeks.
At a crucial time such as now, with the country in dire economic straits, Obama’s call for bipartisanship comes across as genuine, and the nation needs such a spirit on the part of the Republican party to promote what is good for the future of the nation.