Using T4America’s handy Senate/House comparison table and AP’s compromise highlights list, I put together this quick comparison of three versions of the stimulus.

According to the Post, Congress will vote on (and presumably pass) the bill in the next day or two, for Obama to sign by Monday.

The AP list doesn’t mention the Senate’s $5.5 billion transportation discretionary fund. Presumably that means it got the axe (Nope). That’s sure to upset some local governments hoping for earmarks, as well as folks hoping to see stimulus dollars applied
to New Starts projects. Indeed, that is unfortunate. On the other hand, if losing the discretionary fund is what it took to pay for
the drastically higher spending on high-speed and intercity rail, then that’s probably a good trade for the country in the long run.

The relatively smaller transit number does hurt, and should be mentioned. The big question on my mind now, though, is what sort of national rail system that kind of money can pay for. It’s not enough to build all this, but it’s a good chunk. Enough for something tangible.