House Democrats yesterday presented an $825-billion economic stimulus bill. After weeks of preparation by the President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team, the bill was introduced to bring life into the economy. Congressman Charlie Wilson and Congresswoman Jean Schmidt are working to make sure the area sees a part of the money and that the money is spent fairly.

Some of the highlights of the stimulus package include $550 billion in spending and aid to states. The proposals also includes $275 billion in tax cuts.

"Bottom line is that Charlie’s attitude is the government will be handing out billions of dollars, possibly a trillion dollars, and there’s going to be a lot of jobs created," Hillary Wicai Viers, press secretary for Sixth District Congressman Charlie Wilson said.

In a press conference Thursday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., expressed confidence that Congress would reach the mid-February deadline for getting a bill to Obama’s desk. She noted, "this [package] is just the first step."

The proposal of the stimulus bill is expected to be the most expensive spending plan congress has ever proposed. Obama, who takes office on Tuesday, has called it central to stemming what has become the worst economic crisis in decades.

Top Obama advisers have said the plan would save or create 3-4 million jobs in a number of ways and industries.

“100 percent of the district I represent is designated as Appalachia, and most of it is very rural.” Wilson said. “The hard-working families of rural Ohio deserve equal consideration as the stimulus package is developed. I reject the idea that spending a portion of the stimulus package on rural America is inefficient spending.”

The proposal also recommends $90 billion to modernize roads, bridges, mass transit and waterways, and more than $140 billion to states to defray their costs for education and to modernize schools.

It also includes $27 billion to continue the current extended unemployment benefits program through Dec. 31, 2009; and another $9 billion to increase the average unemployment check by $25 a week on top of the roughly $300 a week jobless workers currently receive. The legislation also calls for about $550 billion in federal spending and $275 billion in tax cuts over the next two years.

"Whether there will be an opportunity to direct dollars to the second district is yet to be determined. At this point I am not aware and do not know if we (Congresswoman Jean Schmidt’s office) received any requests from any local government or county government in regard to things they would like to have," Bruce Pfaff, Schmidt’s press secretary, said.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.