Based on an unemployment rate analysis from the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Congress should have passed this stimulus package weeks ago (U.S. Dept. of Labor backup statistics here). Yet senators and representatives must still reconcile their competing versions in conference this week before sending a finalized bill to President Barack Obama.

As further evidence that Congress might not be taking this economic freefall as seriously as it should, just compare the job loss in this recession to those in the last five. The aqua blue line below is the one you’re looking for:

With our economy at stake, it’s good to know partisanship isn’t delaying passage of the stimulus package. Meanwhile, while you’re waiting for the measure to snake through Congress’ greasy, bicameral belly, learn more about where all that tax money will go with a fantastic graphic from The Washington Post. Wonks can scurry over here to comb through the text of the measure or search for specific spending projects.