As Kate writes, Senate Republicans blocked the economic stimulus package last night. In addition to the green policies Kate highlighted, the legislation would have extended unemployment benefits from 26 weeks to up to 39 weeks, offered an additional $1 billion in heating subsidies for the poor, provided money for public transportation projects, and would have included disabled veterans who are unable to work among the Americans eligible for a tax rebate. The bill that passed in the House lacks all of these measures. Who's to blame? John McCain, who didn't show up to vote, is definitely one culprit. But what I hear from a source on the Hill is that Democratic staffers are livid with Alaska's Lisa Murkowski, who signaled she wouldn't be a spoilsport on the package, but then voted "no" -- even though added tax incentives for business were designed, in part, with Alaska's timber industry in mind. Another curious "no" vote was New Hampshire's John Sununu, who seemed less concerned about how the vote would effect his reelection prospects than fellow Northeastern Republican Susan Collins. Sununu faces a strong challenger in New Hampshire's former Democratic governor, Jeanne Shaheen, whom he defeated by only 4 points in his 2002 Senate race. --Dana Goldstein
