WASHINGTON, Dec 20: Congress appeared at an impasse on Thursday over a massive stimulus measure to help the US economy recover from recession and the September 11 attacks, with little time left before lawmakers wrap up their business for the year.

A reworked stimulus bill passed in the early morning hours Thursday in the House of Representatives, by a vote of 224-193, but the Senate remained divided over the measure and appeared unlikely to act.

The Republican decision to bring up the measure in the House without a broadly supported compromise rankled Democrats, and analysts said the House vote effectively killed any chance the measure would become law.

The vote was largely along party lines, with only nine Democrats supporting the measure and two Republicans opposing the legislation, strongly supported by President George W. Bush.

The legislation — the second economic stimulus measure to pass the House — is the result of a compromise between the House Republicans, the White House and three Senate Democrats.

Even though the White House contends there is a majority in the 100-member Senate supporting the bill, Senate procedural rules allow leaders to block a floor vote unless 60 members, or a three-fifths majority, force a vote on the measure.

Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill said Wednesday he is still “hopeful” that the legislation will get the necessary 60 votes, but analysts said that is unlikely.

The sticking point in negotiations centered around a plan to help unemployed workers pay for health insurance.

The Democrats preferred subsidies under an existing programme, while Republicans wanted to give a tax credit to workers to pay for health insurance.—AFP