A leading Democrat says it's wrong to argue that a $26 billion measure before the House mostly amounts to a gift to public employee unions.

Michigan Democrat Sander Levin tells C-SPAN the bill before lawmakers called back to Washington Tuesday was sought by 45 governors, Republicans as well as Democrats, who asked Congress for help to avert massive layoffs in the already suffering economy.

Levin said "we're talking about several hundred thousand" jobs at stake. He said "the notion that this is just unions, no. I think this is pressure from the public who want their teachers teaching."

Republicans charge the bill is a payback to public employee unions that supported Barack Obama and in his presidential campaign.