The House of Representatives passed a bill that will provide $26 billion in funding to states to help protect the jobs of 300,000 teachers and government workers, including police and firefighters. The Speaker of the House summoned the lawmakers back, saying that they needed to do something for thousands of children. The bill provides $10 billion for schools to rehire teachers or not lay them off. The other $26 billion is more 6 months of Medicaid payments for the states. The money will help keep other public workers in their jobs. Republicans criticized the bill, saying that they were spending money they did not have, and that the Democrats were giving a handout to the unions. President Obama gave a speech in which he urged the House to pass the bill so that he could sign it.
See "House passes bill to help teachers, public workers", Jim Abrams, August 10, 2010