Tire pundits unfazed by demise of economic stimulus bill

WASHINGTON (Feb. 11)—Tire association officials were philosophical about the demise of a scaled-back economic stimulus package on the Senate floor last week. "We'd hoped something would get through, but fortunately the economy seems to be looking up" without government intervention, said Donald B. Shea, president of the Rubber Manufacturers Association. Becky MacDicken, government affairs director of the Tire Association of North America, still believed the Senate needed to act, but added, "I don't know if the bill is really dead, or if it can be revived somewhere down the line." The economic stimulus bill was pulled Feb. 6, after the Senate failed to get the three-fifths vote necessary to end debate and proceed to a vote. The measure had previously passed the House.