Senate GOP trying smaller stimulus option

A group of Republican senators led by Sen. Mel Martinez of Florida has drafted an alternative stimulus measure that narrows government spending to infrastructure programs and helping unemployed Americans, addresses the housing crisis and relies mostly on tax cuts, according to CNN.com.

   The $713 billion proposal includes $114 billion for infrastructure projects, up from about $90 billion in the $819 billion House version of the plan.

   The original Senate bill is close to $900 billion. The Republican draft eliminates spending on many government programs included in the original Senate bill, which is close to $900 billion.

Source: American Shipper