Recovery bill gets final approval

Under a procedural deal between the parties,the bill needed 60 votes to pass. The vote began at 5:30 pm,but from 7:07 pm,when Senator Evan Bayh,Democrat of Indiana,cast his aye, the tally hung at 59 to 38,until Brown arrived.

Obama is expected to sign the bill on Monday. Among the senators voting against it was Judd Gregg,Republican of New Hampshire,who withdrew this week as the presidents nominee for commerce secretary.

At a news conference,Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her top lieutenants praised Obama for completing the legislation so quickly. The president requested swift,bold action, Pelosi said. Just four weeks into Obamas presidency,the Democrats boasted that they had already approved three major bills: a measure to curb pay-discrimination against women in the workplace,a broad expansion of the state childrens health insurance program and the stimulus. We have yet to pass the 30th day of this administration, said the House majority leader,Steny H Hoyer,Democrat of Maryland. And we have passed historic legislation.