House Dems Release Economic Stimulus Package

January 16, 2009

Hoping to move quickly to stimulate the economy, House Democrats released their version of an economic recovery plan on Thursday which includes $550 billion in spending and state aid plus $275 billion in tax cuts. AFSCME International President Gerald W. McEntee praised the plan:

“The economic recovery plan proposed by the House leadership will protect and create jobs and help states and cities cope with the strain on their budgets. Their bill sends a clear message of support for the vital public services – such as health care, education and law enforcement – Americans rely on during an economic crisis. The American people do not want critics to play political games while workers are losing their jobs, their homes and their retirement security. Congress needs to act quickly to pass this down-payment on President-elect Obama’s plan to turn our economy around and put our people back to work.”

President-elect Obama has said this stimulus bill is critical if we are going to stem the worst economic crisis our country has seen in decades. In a statement, Obama called the bill "a significant downpayment on our most urgent challenges," adding that "it will contain the kind of strict, independent oversight that will allow the American people to hold Washington accountable for how and where their tax dollars are spent." House Speaker Nancy Pelosi expressed confidence the bill would reach Obama's desk by mid-February.