Sen. Joe Lieberman says the economic stimulus agreement hammered out by Congress last week would likely send about $2.8 billion to Connecticut over the next two years.
The Connecticut independent took part in final negotiations that yielded a $789 billion recovery bill.
The $2.8 billion would be good news for Connecticut, which faces estimated budget deficits of at least $1 billion this fiscal year and at least $6 billion over the next two years. Gov. M. Jodi Rell has been counting on $2 billion in federal stimulus money.
Lieberman says the stimulus money for Connecticut would include $1.3 billion through Medicaid and $1.5 billion in grants.
The goal of the tentative agreement aims to boost the economy and create or save 3.5 million jobs.
The tentative deal capped a frenzied week on Capitol Hill during which a group of moderate senators cut billions from the bill so that it could clear an initial vote. Three Republican senators — Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe of Maine and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania — joined all Democrats and two independents in that vote. All three said they would vote for the compromise plan.
The measure includes a mix of tax cuts, help for victims of the recession in the form of unemployment, health insurance and food stamp benefits, and big investments in infrastructure, energy and education.
Negotiators trimmed $29 billion from the $819 billion House version of the stimulus by slashing spending and reducing tax cuts. Obama’s signature “Making Work Pay” tax cut would be reduced 20 percent, to $400 annually for individuals and $800 for couples. Funding for school construction was eliminated from the bill.
Some House Republicans, all of whom voted against an earlier version, complained that they had been cut out of behind-the-scenes negotiations leading up to the revised bill. By the time negotiators held a public meeting last week, work had largely been finished.
Associated Press and Gannett reports were included in this article.
