Senate passes bill — with sweeteners

The bill passed after a 74 – 25 vote.

On "The Takeaway" — Todd Zwillich, of "Capitol News Connection" talks about the bill that passed and what’s in store for members of the House:

"The old … rescue plan is in there, a couple of sweeteners — you have the expansion of FDIC insurance from 100,000 to 250,000 and then this package of what are called ‘extenders’ … another name for a big package of tax breaks that go to business, research and development tax credits, tax credits for renewal fuels, and the annual ritual of the tax for the alternative minimum tax — that was a tax that was, a long time ago, meant for a couple of wealthy people and wound up bleeding into the middle class, so every year they patch it so the middle class don’t have to pay."

Zwillich says the bill never had in issue in the Senate:

"This week, after the bill failed in the House, you saw the Senate kinda say, ‘alright, you had your chance, we’re taking over, we’ve got a broad bi-partisan coalition for this bill, we’re going to pass it, we’re going to put the pressure on you guys’ — they’ve basically back the House into a corner now … this is called ‘jamming the House’ … you’ll vote for this or you’ll get nothing."

Senators Barack Obama and John McCain both voted for the bill.

"The Takeaway" is PRI’s new national morning news program, delivering the news and analysis you need to catch up, start your day, and prepare for what’s ahead. The show is a co-production of WNYC and PRI, in editorial collaboration with the BBC, The New York Times Radio, and WGBH.

More at thetakeaway.org