0
POPS$8,000 In Your Pocket Well, almost. It's a tax credit, not a rebate. And you've got to be a first-time home buyer. Still, it's one of the most popular provisions of the new stimulus act. As good as the tax break sounds, it might have been higher: the Senate's version of the stimulus bill would have included a homebuyer tax credit of $15,000.
1
POPSCongress Strikes a Deal on Stimulus The $789 billion bill is as expensive as the version considered by either the House or the Senate. The worry is that it might not do enough to stimulate the economy.
0
POPSGet Ready for Serious Government Spending Democrats may have "kicked the can down the road" on giving Detroit's Big 3 aid this week, as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid reportedly said. But it sounds like Congress and the next administration are ready to open the floodgates to government spending. That may not be a bad thing. Remember the old formula from economics class: GDP=Consumption + Investment + Government Spending + Net Exports? When everything else is down, Uncle Sam sometimes has to step in to fill the gap. It also means Democrats' promises not to spend more without raising taxes or reducing spending elsewhere is probably out the window. Goodbye pay-go, hello stimulus!
0
POPSPols Favor Cheapest Stimulus, Thankfully This means Congress will likely spend $146 billion on a stimulus package, rather than $158 billion. It's also political posturing in an election year. (What member of Congress wouldn't vote to send constituents a check?) There is no evidence that a fiscal stimulus will lift the economy. If we're adding to the deficit, better to go the cheapest route possible.
0
POPSFirst Test for Fiscal Stimulus This was expected, but Baucus' plan in the Senate would up the rebate amount to $500 (but no higher). Now we get to see which one politicians think their constituents will find more appealing. Both add to the deficit; neither guarantees an economic upswing.
1
POPSA Generous Bailout If true, this would be a fairly generous stimulus plan, signaling that the president is very concerned about the state of the economy. Critics have said that a $300 rebate--like the one taxpayers received just after Bush first took office--would not be enough. Stay tuned. -- Brian Wingfield
Newest Clips
see Newest Clips
1
Latest Pops
Latest Comments
Most Pops
Tags
Print
Save
Turn on live update