Feb 5 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives must resolve differences in their respective economic stimulus bills so they can pass a final version to send to President Barack Obama to sign into law.
Lawmakers say the final measure may include the following:
* The price tag may be trimmed to about $820 billion, which Obama has indicated he would be comfortable with, senators say. The House-passed package of tax cuts and new spending would cost $819 billion, while the one headed toward Senate approval on Thursday would cost more than $920 billion.
* Cuts in spending would likely focus on non-construction projects that critics say would have little, if any, impact on stimulating the economy or creating jobs.
* A bigger proportion of the package could be devoted to tax cuts. Currently, less than a third would go to tax relief. Obama initially proposed 40 percent.
* Increased effort to stem record home mortgage foreclosures, which have been largely to blame for the economic downturn. Senate Republicans have offered a number of measures to provide relief, including one to reduce mortgage rates.
* The House will likely go along with a Senate proposal to soften a "Buy American" requirement in spending projects, like ones to rebuild roads and bridges. Fearing a trade war, the Senate agreed to require provisions be applied in a manner consistent with U.S. obligations in international agreements.
* Expect little Republican support for the final bill in the House or Senate. No Republican voted for the initial House bill and scant Republican support was expected for the Senate one.
So if Congress passes a stimulus bill, Obama will have scored a major legislative victory but fallen short of his goal of increased cooperation between Democrats and Republicans in Congress. (Writing by Thomas Ferraro; Additional reporting by Susan Cornwell and Jeremy Pelofsky; Editing by Peter Cooney)