expanding a number of other individual tax credits, including the first-time homebuyer tax credit to $8,000. Mandatory spending increases, expected to cost $267 billion through 2019, include an extension of unemployment and welfare benefits, Medicaid payments to states, health insurance assistance for individuals and grants for health information technology. Discretionary spending, estimated at $308.3 billion through 2019 and include grants to state and local schools and funds for public housing, transportation and nutrition assistance. The bill passed 60-38. [New York Times, 2/13/09; Vote 64, 2/13/09]  Stimulus Package Contained Most Significant Expansion of Middle Class Tax Cuts Ever. Of the total package, 36 percent ($288 billion) of the package is dedicated to tax cuts that will put money in the hands of families and businesses to spread throughout the economy, while 64 percent ($499 billion) is targeted to job- creating investments. Under the bill, 129 million working households will receive a tax cut—about 95% of all working households. The legislation includes the most significant expansion in tax cuts for low- and moderate- income households ever. [AP, 2/12/09; Office of Speaker Nancy Pelosi Fact Sheet, 2/20/09; Washington Post, 2/18/09]  XXXX Voted Against the Senate Version of the Economic Stimulus Bill. In February 2009, XXXX voted against the Senate’s $838 billion economic stimulus bill, a massive tax cut and spending package. The measure includes nearly $300 billion in tax cuts and hundreds of billions in aid to states, incentives for renewable energy, extended unemployment benefits, expanded food stamp benefits, health insurance subsidies and spending on infrastructure. The bill passed 61-37. [CQ Today, 2/11/09; Vote 61, 2/10/09] XXXX Voted Against Giving “Cash for Clunkers” a $2 Billion Boost. In August 2009, XXXX voted against a $2 billion boost for the popular “cash for clunkers” auto trade-in program. The program offered rebates of up to $4,500 to consumers who trade in old gas guzzlers for more fuel-efficient vehicles. It promoted a huge surge in customer traffic through dealer showrooms and an increase in auto sales in July, even though it was in effect only a few days in that month. The legislation will transfer $2 billion in funds from the economic stimulus law enacted earlier in the year to replenish the depleted auto trade-in program. The money would come from Title 17 renewable energy loan guarantees, which have been slow to be allocated and which Congress will work to replenish later. The bill passed 60-37. [CQ Today, 8/07/09; Vote 270, 8/06/09] XXXX Voted for Bipartisan Stimulus Plan to Provide Checks for Individuals and Investment Incentives for Businesses. In February 2008, XXXX voted for bipartisan legislation to jump-start the economy by putting checks in Americans’ pockets and providing investment incentives for businesses. The bill would provide advance refund of a tax credit for most taxpayers equal to $600 for individuals and $1,200 for couples. Families would receive $300 for each child under 17. It also would begin phasing out the benefit for individuals with adjusted gross incomes above $75,000 and married couples with incomes above $150,000. It would provide businesses with a 50 percent depreciation for certain equipment purchased in 2008 and increase to $250,000 the amount small businesses can expense in the year items are purchased. It would raise the size of mortgage loans the Federal Housing Administration could insure and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could purchase. As amended, the bill would expand eligibility for rebate checks to include low-income senior citizens, disabled veterans and widows of veterans. It also would provide that illegal immigrants would not be eligible for rebate checks. [Vote 10, 2/07/08] MINIMUM WAGE XXXX Finally Backed Minimum Wage Increase In 2007. In 2007, XXXX voted for bipartisan legislation that raised the minimum wage to $7.25 per hour over two years and provided $8.3 billion in small business tax incentives. The bill passed 94-3. [Vote 42, 2/1/07] XXXX Voted for Irresponsible Package That Included Estate Tax Cut for Wealthiest Americans. In 2006, XXXX voted for the so-called “trifecta” bill which would raise the minimum wage, extend popular expiring tax cuts and permanently cut the estate tax to exempt $5 million of an individual’s estate and tax $25 million estates at a 15% rate. The estate tax measure would cost $268 billion over ten years. “This trifecta is a high-stakes gamble with America's future,” said Sen. Dick Durbin. “This bill will add almost $1 trillion to the debt,” Sen. Harry Reid 224