Valley lawmakers uncertain about stimulus package
Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2009
By Michael Doyle / Bee Washington Bureau


An $825 billion stimulus bill set for House approval today could pour hundreds of millions of dollars into the San Joaquin Valley, where political sentiment appears divided along party lines.

Valley highway projects could receive an estimated $200 million. Lemoore Naval Air Station in Kings County could receive child care and housing assistance. Cities would receive money to hire police officers. Yosemite and other national parks would receive funding to fix themselves up.

But California officials are still trying to figure out precisely where the dollars would flow. And economists are debating whether the stimulus package would actually turn the faltering U.S. economy around.

But some things are certain: the House of Representatives will approve the package. Democrats currently control the House by a 255-178 margin, and party leaders want a bill on President Barack Obama’s desk by mid-February.

Valley Democratic Reps. Jim Costa of Fresno and Dennis Cardoza of Merced said late Tuesday that they were still undecided.

“There are parts of it I like, and parts of it I don’t like,â€