As President Barack Obama's first 100 days come to a close, Bay State lawmakers agree the new president has put the country on a distinctly different path. But there are differences among Democratic and Republican lawmakers as to where that path is going.

Although Rep. Betty Poirier, R-North Attleboro, hopes Obama's policies help heal the economy, she is concerned about the increasing debt the stimulus package has helped build.

"(I'm) very very worried about the amount of money the government has spent and how we're ever going to pay it back. And concerned about the future not so much for my children, but for my grandchildren," Poirier said. "I think the debt will be paid back for probably more than their generation."

Obama did not make a true effort to work with Republicans to piece together an efficient stimulus package, Poirier said.

"When the stimulus plan was put together there was no reaching across the aisle at all. There were no priorities sought from the other side of the aisle," Poirier said. "When the Republicans asked for an opportunity to eliminate some of the ridiculous proposals there was no time to do that." Rep. Richard Ross, R-Wrentham, also fears taxpayers don't understand the dimensions of the debt. To put it in perspective, he compares one-trillion in terms of time with one-trillion seconds equaling 32,000 years.

"We truly are passing on to our future generations a debt that we can never never shed," Ross said.

But Rep. Steve D'Amico, D-Seekonk, said the federal stimulus package was necessary even though its effectiveness may not be immediately clear.

"Clearly these solutions are going to take a long time before we begin to see the results. These are challenging economic times and they're difficult not just for the president, but for us here in Massachusetts," D'Amico said.

D'Amico said Obama needed to take quick action to reverse Bush administration policies and bring energy independence and health care to the forefront. He disagreed with critics who have said Obama is using the economic crisis as a way to push unrelated policy. D'Amico said health care was a crucial piece of economic recovery.

"The health care, I think, is closely tied to our economic future. Just talk to any of the Detroit auto makers about the burden they're carrying for health care costs. I think that we need to take that burden off of people."

Although D'Amico applauded Obama's push for health care and broad changes in government Ross said Obama is only extending the reach of government.

"I really do see indications that his presidency in my mind is working towards bigger government," Ross said.

Poirier said she worries about the perception of America abroad as Obama tries to create a new image of the U.S. abroad.

"Instead of creating respect for us around the world with the strength of our military and of our commitment and how we feel about protecting our homeland and our allies, we seem to be more concerned with our popularity with terrorists," Poirier said. D'Amico said Obama's leadership style and desire to engage with other countries was needed.

"He seems cool. He's calm, he's sincere and I think passionate and I think people sense that," D'Amico said. "I think that most people are rooting for him to succeed."

Camille Roane is a correspondent for The Sun Chronicle through the Boston University Statehouse Program.