The Obama Administration asserted Wednesday the $862 billion federal stimulus plan passed during the depths of the recession has created or saved between 2.5 million and 3.6 million jobs.

The updated numbers are an increase from a first quarter estimate of between 2.2 million to 2.8 million jobs the stimulus had created or saved. The White House Council of Economic Advisers proclaimed the stimulus act is on a path to save or create 3.5 million jobs by the end of 2010.

The Associated Press reports there is a growing consensus among independent economists that the stimulus, most of which went to tax breaks, Medicaid and unemployment insurance, has in fact boosted jobs and kept people off unemployment.

While that may be the case, Republicans beg to differ, according to the report. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell told the AP “the fastest-growing parts of the Democrat economy aren’t jobs – they’re the crushing burden of national debt and the size of the federal government.”