Washington (CNN) -- A 5-year-old's birthday party with no cake and candles? Unheard of, except in politics. Monday marked the fifth anniversary of President Barack Obama's signing of the 2009 stimulus bill, the focus of a hyper-partisan debate over the first major legislation of his presidency. By most assessments, the $800-billion-plus spending and tax-relief program helped reverse job losses and restore economic growth, though not as fast or strong as originally predicted. Arguments based on political ideology persist over whether it helped or hurt the county in the long run. Obama and Democrats argue it was crucial to the recovery from what is now called the Great Recession, while Republicans who opposed the stimulus then still call it the wrong prescription.
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White House report says stimulus bill achieved its goal of reversing downturn
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Republicans lambaste the $800-billion-plus measure signed in 2009
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Five years later, it remains a partisan dispute based on differing political ideologies
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Vice President Biden heads to Illinois on Wednesday to commemorate the bill signing
As usual, a wide partisan divide existed, with two-thirds of Democrats in support compared to only 12% of @placeholder.