Specter Comes Under Fire

Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter’s move to support the federal stimulus plan is drawing fire from his party. Specter is one of three Republican lawmakers to publicly support a federal stimulus package. Those votes ensure the measure will see a vote in the upper chamber. The move is generating some anger from conservatives who say the bill is filled with needless spending. Political Scientist Christopher Borick of Muhlenberg College says Specter's support for the stimulus package is one of the many times he's sided with the Democrats instead of his own party.
Matthew Brouillette of the conservative Commonwealth Foundation says he's disappointed by Specter's move, but wasn't caught off guard. Specter's support for the stimulus package is one of the many times he's sided with the Democrats instead of his own party. Not a single Republican voted for the stimulus when it passed the House, but Specter says it's needed to put Americans back to work.