US Senate passes stimulus package

The US Senate has approved President Barack Obama's massive stimulus package to revive the American economy.

The vote was 61-37, with support from just three Republican senators.

The version of the plan approved by the Senate costs 838 billion US dollars, 19 billion more than the version approved last week by the House of Representatives.

The two chambers must now resolve their differences and draft a final bill to be signed into law by Obama, who has set a deadline of February the 16th.

The vote came right in the middle of Obama's town-hall event in Fort Myers, a community reeling from home foreclosures and job losses. He immediately praised the result.

Barack Obama, US President, said, "I want to thank all the members of the Senate who moved the process forward. We've still got to get the House bill and the Senate bill to match up before it gets sent to my desk so go we've got a little more work to?do over the next couple of days but it's a good start."