Obama stimulus plan faces changes in Senate

WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. Senate has opened debate on President Barack Obama’s massive economic stimulus package.
   
The price tag is already approaching $900 billion - and it’s likely to grow.
   
Before the debate got under way, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell called for more mortgage relief and additional tax cuts, while Democrats conceded privately they will drop items that have drawn bipartisan criticism.
   
The bill is a major test for Obama and Democrats controlling the Senate. There’s unrest among Democrats such as Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad, who have expressed concern that many of the items in the sprawling measure won’t do much to stimulate the economy.
   
The Senate measure is broadly similar to an $819 billion plan that passed the House last week.
   
President Barack Obama is making a fresh appeal to Congress to pass the stimulus package. The president says that “very modest differences” over the measure should not delay its swift passage.