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The two moderate Republicans, who have serious questions about the proposal before them, will meet with President Obama today.

By DIETER BRADBURY, Political Correspondent February 4, 2009

U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe are playing key roles as the Senate struggles to fashion an economic stimulus package that enjoys bipartisan support.

The two Maine Republicans, moderates with a willingness to work with Democrats, are deeply involved in negotiations to shape a bill that blends tax cuts and targeted spending.

They will meet with President Obama in the White House today as part of a group of senators summoned to discuss the stimulus. Both agree that a stimulus is needed, but both have expressed concerns about the $819 billion bill passed by the House last week.

Snowe and Collins said the House bill, and the $885 billion Senate version drafted by Democratic leaders, include spending provisions that would not boost the economy. They said they wanted to see a more streamlined, amended proposal with spending targeted to quick economic benefits.

"In addition to infrastructure investments, I believe the stimulus should include funding to help states avoid cuts in essential health care programs, tax relief for low and middle-income families, tax incentives to help small businesses, and investments in energy conservation to help create jobs and reduce our dependence on foreign oil," Collins said in a statement.

Snowe has raised concerns about spending provisions in the bill, including $575 million for renovation and research at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, $2 billion for advanced battery manufacturing and $135 million for management of lands and resources.

"Indisputably, the grave nature of the current economic landscape dictates the urgency of passing a substantial and comprehensive recovery plan," Snowe said in remarks from the Senate floor. "But I cannot support just any stimulus package."

John Gentzel, a spokesman for Snowe, said she had been working with Republicans and Democrats like Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu to refine the stimulus package.

He said Snowe looked forward to sharing her views with Obama today.

"She's going to be talking to the president about the need to scrub this bill and get those points out of there," Gentzel said.

Collins has described the stimulus bill as a "Christmas tree" festooned with programs that may be worthwhile but don't belong in an economic revitalization measure.

Collins has been involved in discussions with a group of Senate Democrats that includes Ben Nelson, a moderate from Nebraska who frequently represents his party in negotiations with Republicans.

Collins and Nelson worked together last year to amend the 2009 defense authorization bill with a provision that requires the Iraqi government to shoulder the costs of major reconstruction projects.

Collins has also been involved in stimulus discussions with a group of Republicans headed by Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Mel Martinez of Florida. They hope to craft an alternative package with more tax cuts and different spending measures that they believe are more likely to provide a boost to the economy.

Snowe and Collins voted against an amendment Tuesday by U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., that would have added another $25 billion in spending for highway, mass transit, water and sewer projects. The Maine senators both said they opposed the amendment because it did not offset the added spending with reductions elsewhere in the stimulus package.

Democrats hold 56 seats in the Senate, but any stimulus package needs 60 votes to prevent a filibuster – a procedural move by opponents to block the legislation from moving forward.

So Republican votes are critical, and Snowe and Collins are seen as potential supporters of a Democratic-sponsored stimulus because of their moderate stances and records of bipartisanship.

That has put them under pressure from interest groups, including a coalition of labor and liberal organizations known as Americans United for Change. The coalition is...