House Passes $90 Billion Jobs Bill

After a week of Democratic infighting, the House narrowly passed a trimmed-down, $90 billion jobs bill Friday. Worried about public perception of excessive government spending, lawmakers rid the package of provisions that would have extended health-insurance subsidies for unemployed workers. In particular, as the country moves out of recession and into recovery, many lawmakers claimed their constituents were less interested in helping the afflicted than reducing the national debt. "What might have been acceptable a month ago has moved," said Rep. Gerald E. Connolly (D-VA), who voted against the bill. The bill will face a tough battle in the Senate, The Washington Post reports, which will debate the package when it returns from a 10-day vacation. The break leaves around 5.3 million unemployed workers who rely on federal emergency unemployment benefits in limbo.