WASHINGTON, Jan 21 (Reuters) - A U.S. House of Representatives panel on Wednesday backed a $358 billion package of new government spending, the first key test for a massive Democratic plan aimed at boosting the ailing U.S. economy.
The House Appropriations Committee voted 35-22 to approve the spending, part of an $825 billion package President Barack Obama has sought to help the economy, which has been in a recession since December, 2007.
The tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee and House Energy and Commerce Committee are scheduled to consider their portions of the stimulus package on Thursday. (Reporting by Richard Cowan and Jeremy Pelofsky, editing by Todd Eastham)