By Jeremy Pelofsky and Thomas Ferraro
WASHINGTON, Feb 6 (Reuters) - The Democratic-led U.S. Senate will again try on Friday to pass a $937 billion economic stimulus package even as moderate lawmakers sought to broker a deal to trim proposed spending some criticized as too much.
A group of about 18 Democrats and Republicans worked late on Thursday to slice about $107 billion from the plan, which President Barack Obama wants on his desk by Feb. 16 to help reverse the economy's downward spiral.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he was 'cautiously optimistic' they could finish up on Friday, but warned that if progress stalled he would file a motion to set up a showdown procedural vote for Sunday on the White House-backed measure.
A wildcard that could push the senators to quicken their pace is the release Friday of January unemployment data, which is expected to show the private sector had purged another half a million jobs.
Reid said on Thursday that he had hoped to be able to pass the bill within hours, but he later abruptly halted debate and said the senators would resume work on Friday.
Republicans have blasted the package as doing little to create jobs and boost the economy, which has been in a recession since December 2007. Democrats so far have fought off most Republican attempts to alter the bill to add tax cuts and slash spending.
source: http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN0142074920090206?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews
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