Stimulus Package Slowed by Senate Democrats (Sen. Mitch McConnell)

Americans are probably wondering why the rebate checks we’ve been talking about now for almost a month are still being debated on the floor of the Senate, and we owe them an answer.  Two weeks ago they saw what looked like a bipartisan agreement between Democrats and Republicans in Congress and the White House over the details of a deal.

Speaker Pelosi and Leader Boehner, to their great credit, resisted the temptation to add pet projects that they knew would only slow the package down — and rob it of its simulative effect.  This package had to be targeted and it had to be timely, or it wouldn’t work at all.

Here was a rare situation when both parties agreed to put politics and individual interests aside and come together for the good of the people.  But then the stimulus bullet train turned into a rickety stage coach here in the Senate.

Senate Democrats couldn’t do what House Democrats had done.  They couldn’t resist — just once — a chance to play politics.  These are precisely the kind of shenanigans Americans had been hoping we could get past this year.

I don’t think Americans care one bit whether this bill has a Republican or a Democratic stamp on it.  They are completely fed up with political gotcha.  Americans want — and deserve — results.