Votes by Mississippi’s delegates to the U.S. House split evenly on President Obama’s economic stimulus package, reflecting national unease about whether adding $819 billion to a national debt that has already soared past $10 trillion is the right remedy for the national recession.

Democrats Bennie Thompson, who represents Vicksburg and most of the Delta, and freshman Travis Childers of Northeast Mississippi supported the legislation that moves to the Senate this week, where the total cost is likely to grow. Thompson’s vote was predictable. He’s a member of the party faithful and reliably endorses all domestic spending bills. As recently as two days before the vote, Childers said he hadn’t made up his mind.

The state’s only Republican in the House, freshman Rep. Gregg Harper of East Central Mississippi, voted against the measure. His comment, reflecting a view held by many, was that when seeking a way out of a hole, a good first step would be to stop digging. Harper’s vote could also be seen as “lockstep.” He was joined by all 176 other House Republicans in opposing the bill.

Breaking ranks was Democrat Gene Taylor, who represents the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Taylor always votes his conscience, but was joined by only 10 others in his party, so the measure was approved 244-188.

The president, who had made an in-person appeal for Republican votes, was elated even though he didn’t win a single convert. He said the plan will  “save or create more than 3 million new jobs over the next few years,” but we recall he was just as clear when he promised to veto any legislation containing “pork.” And make no mistake, as details of the biggest spending bill in American history eke out, there will be many laugh lines — except they won’t be funny.

The legislation comes on the heels of last fall’s bailout bill, which was only slightly smaller. Most of that money has gone to prop up failing banks and other financial institutions and has had questionable success. And that bill followed a rare federal income tax rebate that put cash in most Americans’ pockets.

In the new plan, tens of billions of dollars would come to the states, which is not bad news for Mississippi. Allocations would augment schools and keep Medicaid going. There is another tax cut in the bill that would give a $500 break to single workers and $1,000 for couples. Those who pay no income tax would also get the money.

The strongest prospects are for spending that will create jobs weatherizing homes and building roads, bridges and schools.

The Senate version differs, so it’s highly likely provisions will continue to be added and removed until the last possible moment.

We join Democrats who have high hopes that this legislation will stabilize the economy, but we also understand the position of Republicans who can factually say there’s no proof that it will have any effect at all in the shortterm and could be extremely damaging in the longterm. The federal treasury is already swimming in red ink, so every penny in the plan will have to be borrowed. Our generation and those to come will continue to pay for the fiscal irresponsibility — public and private — that has brought the nation to this point.