The Senate Democrats are hinting that they will cut non-stimulatory aspects of the stimulus bill.
Times are good for any elected Democrat right now. Traditionally the party of higher spending (although Bush challenged that legacy), the massive size and scope of the stimulus gives them the opportunity to tack on all their pet projects they've been saving up for the last two terms, be it long term funding for contraception, the arts, or special interest groups.
These may be laudable aims but if so, they should stand or fall on their own merits, not dishonestly tacked onto other packages so that they may pass with less debate.
That said, it is not a clear-cut issue. What actually consists of stimulatory spending is difficult to judge. If you start offering up billions of dollars, every private firm and every state suddenly has pressing projects that just need a little bit of capital to provide eternal happiness. Check out stimuluswatch.org to see some of the (more than a little pathetic) begging going on, for what is basically using public funds for private benefit.
Herein lies the paradox of stimulus. It has to be done fast, to have any counter-cyclical effect. But how to spend the money has to be carefully and prudently deliberated on, or it will just be siphoned off to the loudest interest groups and pet causes of persuasive politicians, in a way that won't provide the most benefit to the most people. This deliberation should be done very slowly.
You see the problem.