Stories related to: stimulus package

The government's stimulus package has worked—for now at least, the New York Times reports. Spending rose 0.4% last month, the Commerce Department said today, buoyed by the $50 billion in checks sent to consumers. But subtract the stimulus, and income levels rose only modestly, and wage growth lagged well behind inflation. More »

Roughly 5 million people who qualify for a stimulus check could be out of luck because they haven't filed a tax return, CNN reports, and the IRS is scrambling to let them know. These un-stimulated masses consist mostly of seniors and veterans who don’t normally file returns. “I think there are some natural barriers to getting some folks to want to file a return again,” one IRS employee theorized. More »

Treasury is putting its rebate money where its mouth is—ahead of schedule, Reuters reports, with the first wave of checks going out Monday. “We're a little bit ahead of schedule, so we will start right on Monday with direct deposits," Henry Paulson tells Reuters. The Treasury secretary is happy to get cash into Americans’ pockets a little quicker, in order to stave off worsening economic conditions. More »

The bill was rushed through the Senate to come to the aid of homeowners facing foreclosure, but it turns out that some of its biggest beneficiaries are automakers, airlines and energy producers. The Senate’s housing bill is packed with billions in corporate tax cuts, the New York Times reports. With populist fervor behind the bill, lobbyists from a host of industries hit the Hill. And while the bill would help homebuilders and homebuyers, there’s little to actually prevent foreclosures. More »

The subprime crisis isn’t bad for everyone: congressmen and lobbying firms are doing great, Politico reports. Industries caught in the crunch have drastically scaled up their campaign contributions, and dozens of new lobbying firms have sprung up to cash in. Securities and investment PACs, for example, have already given more in 2008 than they gave throughout the midterm elections in 2006. More »

Hank Paulson came closer than ever to conceding that the economy is in recession in a series of interviews yesterday, Reuters reports. Weary after a weekend in which he helped to broker Bear Stearns' fire sale to JPMorgan, the treasury secretary avoided the R-word but admitted: "There's no doubt that the American people know that the economy has turned down sharply. So to me much less important is the label that's placed on it today." More »

The economy is experiencing difficulties, but President Bush said today he is certain a recovery will come soon, the AP reports. “In a free-market economy there will be good times and bad times” he said in a speech to the Economic Club of New York. “We’re going through a hard time.” Democrats wasted little time in rebutting, dispatching Chuck Schumer to invoke Herbert Hoover. More »

GOP lawmakers are breaking ranks over the housing crisis as they see constituents suffering foreclosures, Politico reports. Ohio Rep. Steve Chabot, the owner of a 97.5% lifetime American Conservative Union rating, recently snubbed party leaders and the White House by co-writing a bill to let bankruptcy judges re-write mortgages. Chabot sees foreclose blight "every day" in his district, one lobbyist said. More »

Even people who didn't make enough money last year to be required to file a tax return are going to have to do so this year—if they want to get their rebates under President Bush's $170 billion economic stimulus plan, Reuters reports. The IRS is planning an information blitz to make eligible people, especially Social Security recipients, aware that they have to file or they won't see a penny. More »

President Bush signed Congress’ economic stimulus bill into law today, ensuring that the tax rebates at the heart of the $168 billion plan will find their way into American bank accounts by May. The average rebate for an individual will be $600, with $1,200 for couples and a $300 add-on per child, reports the AP. More »

Democrats' efforts to expand a financial relief plan for Americans hit a roadblock in the Senate today, the AP reports. Republicans were able to stymie the bill, which they say is too expensive. Democrats hoped to add $40 billion to the plan that passed the House last week; it's now in limbo, but there's enormous political pressure to get it moving. More »

Americans' concern over the domestic economy is at a level not seen in nearly 15 years, and voters doubt the Bush stimulus package will avert a recession, a new Washington Post -ABC News poll shows. Eight in 10 Americans rate the economy as "not so good" or "poor," and 39% say the economy and job security are their primary electoral concern. More »

The Senate has unveiled its own economic stimulus package, challenging the plan agreed to between House leaders and the White House. The Senate plan would give $500 to almost all Americans, rich and poor, and would extend unemployment benefits to the jobless, reports the Washington Post . Senators are also likely to add heating cost assistance, foreclosure-prevention funding, business tax incentives, and other benefits. More »

Get ready for that glow to wear off: The good feeling on Capitol Hill over a stimulus package will end as soon as the first deal is done, with Republicans and Democrats digging in on various economic cures. The next legislative round, Politico reports, will likely see GOPers fighting to extend tax cuts and Dems pushing a huge infrastructure package. More »

Ben Bernanke insists he won’t take sides in a congressional fray over how to revive the nation’s flat-lining economy. But the Fed chief says he will support an economic stimulus package—be it GOP tax cuts or Democrats' increased spending—as long as it is quick and temporary, the New York Times reports. Lawmakers are scrambling to devise ways to ward off a recession, and Bernanke testifies before a House panel tomorrow. More »