Bush to lay out economic stimulus ideas
President seen agreeing with Democrats' basic principles
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22725498/WASHINGTON - President Bush is putting together his first public call for a “robust” emergency fiscal stimulus bill to get cash quickly into the pockets of consumers and jump-start a sagging economy, his treasury secretary said Friday.
Bush planned to lay out his position later in the day, but he wasn’t expected to go into specifics. Press secretary Dana Perino said Bush would demand that any package be effective, simple and temporary — mirroring calls by Democratic lawmakers for a “timely, targeted and temporary” stimulus measure.
Taxpayers could receive rebates of up to $800 for individuals and $1,600 for married couples under a White House plan. Although lawmakers were considering smaller rebate checks and more money for food stamp recipients and the unemployed, Bush told congressional leaders that he favors income tax rebates for people and tax breaks for business investment.
“What he believes is that we’ve got to do something that is robust. It’s going to be temporary and get money into the economy quickly,” Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said Friday on CBS’s “The Early Show.” “It’s going to be focused on consumers, individuals, families — putting money in their pocket. And it’s going to be focused on giving businesses the incentive to hire people, to create jobs.”
President Bush is expected to lay out his position on an economic stimulus package Friday, without going into specifics.