A $787-billion economic stimulus package is heading to the White House for President Barack Obama’s signature following final congressional approval of the huge package of federal spending and tax breaks. The bill includes an estimated $130 billion in spending for construction programs as well as tax incentives that also will give the industry a boost.
One surprise winner in what Congress approved is high-speed rail, which received $9.3 billion in funding. A big loser was new school construction, which received nothing. And the biggest year for outlays of all kinds will be fiscal 2010.