SAN DIEGO -- Republican congressmen from the San Diego area toed the party line Friday in voting against President Barack Obama's $787 billion economic stimulus package, which was approved by the House 246-183 with not a single GOP vote.

Local Democratic lawmakers voted for the bill, which is a mix of spending on infrastructure and other projects to create or maintain jobs and tax cuts and aid to the states.

The bill was approved by the Senate, 60-38, with votes from three moderate Republicans -- Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania. It is expected to be signed soon by Obama.

Local Republicans belittled the stimulus package, calling it a waste of money.

Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, said the bill "was crafted with lobbyists and special interests playing a much greater role than economists and bipartisanship."

Issa said he would have supported Obama's earlier call for a bill focusing on building highways, bridges and water projects, as well as targeted tax cuts and enhanced benefits for unemployed Americans.

"Unfortunately, Congress couldn't control its runaway spending habits and the American people are stuck with a fiscally irresponsible and partisan bill," said Issa, who is the ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Rep. Brian Bilbray, R-Solana Beach, told The San Diego Union-Tribune the price tag was twice as much as he could have supported.

"There is no way of paying for it," Bilbray said. "It has just become one big grab bag for people who want to get all their little goody bags filled."

Rep. Duncan D. Hunter, R-El Cajon, told the newspaper the bill was too expensive and added too much to the national debt.

Supporters of the bill said it will save or create 3.5 million jobs nationwide.

Rep. Susan Davis, D-San Diego, said the San Diego area could gain 30,000 jobs from the bill, which provides $26 billion for infrastructure projects and other programs in California.

"Until now, the focus and attention has been on the financial markets, but not enough attention has been given to average Americans, average San Diegans," Davis said. "This package will give a boost and hopefully provide the confidence people and companies need."

Rep. Bob Filner, D-Chula Vista, voted for the bill and said it will bring relief to California residents, along with one of the largest tax cuts in American history.

"This legislation also has unprecedented accountability and transparency measures to help ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and effectively -- including no earmarked projects and a new recovery.gov Web site allowing Americans to track the investments," Filner said.

The bill allocates billions of dollars to help victims of the worst economic downtown since the Great Depression through extended unemployment benefits, food stamps, medical care, job training and other services.

Tens of billions of dollars are earmarked to help states like California, which is facing a $42 billion budget deficit, to offset funding cuts for education and local governments, and $48 billion is to be used for transportation projects including roads, bridges and mass transit.

The legislation also provides a tax cut of $400 for individuals and $800 for couples.