1. The Republicans said they were shut out of the discussions to work out a compromise between the House stimulus bill and the Senate stimulus bill. What did House Minority Whip Eric Cantor imply was the Democrats' reason for denying Republicans access to the debate on the House and Senate bills?

2. a) How did a spokesman for the heavy-equipment manufacturer Caterpillar Inc. contradict President Obama's announcement that Caterpillar will rehire some of their laid-off employees if the stimulus bill passes?
b) How do you account for the contradiction between the two statements?

3. Compromise - to accept that you will reduce your demands or change your opinion in order to reach an agreement with someone (from dictionary.cambridge.org)
The compromise that Democrats were working on this week was between the House's stimulus bill and the Senate's stimulus bill - both written by Democrats. They were not working on a compromise between what Democrats thought should be in the bill and what Republicans thought should be in the bill. Do you think Democrats did the right thing by coming to a compromise among themselves and leaving Republicans entirely out of the debate? Explain your answer.

4. a) Define stimulus.
b) The compromise includes massive amounts of new spending. What type of aid is included in the stimulus bill for Americans hurt by the recession?
c) Opponents of the stimulus bill say that it will not stimulate the economy - that the $800 billion will not create new jobs, but only create temporary government programs, and will therefore not do anything to help the economy. Have you heard this idea in the news? What do you think - will the $800 billion help to stimulate the economy? Explain your answer.

5. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) wanted the stimulus bill to include $16 billion for school construction. Though it was not included in the bill, how will schools probably get this money from the stimulus bill anyway?

6. How did House Minority leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) react to the Democrats' compromise between the House and Senate bills?

7. The purpose of the stimulus bill, according to President Obama, is to quickly "put Americans back to work." Read the "Background" below on problems with the stimulus bill. Which facts surprise you most? Explain your answer.