Lending by small banks is focus of bill in House

By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - House Democrats are looking to increase lending by small banks as a way to resuscitate their election-year jobs agenda.

A bill creating a $30 billion fund for community banks to increase lending to small businesses is up for a possible vote in the House on Thursday.

Congressional Democrats started the year with an aggressive agenda of passing a series of bills designed to create jobs. Many of the proposals stalled as lawmakers, after hearing from angry voters, became wary of adding to the national debt.

On Wednesday, the Senate rejected a $140 billion bill that would renew pieces of last year's economic stimulus bill.

Governors complain that without additional aid, hundreds of thousands of public employees will be laid off.