• Most Popular
  • Most Shared

FACTBOX: Details of economic stimulus package

WASHINGTON
Wed Feb 13, 2008 2:40pm EST

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush on Wednesday signed into law an economic stimulus package that is aimed at staving off a recession by offering tax rebates and incentives to businesses to invest.

Barack Obama

Here are some details of the plan:

* The total package is worth about $168 billion over two years, roughly 1 percent of U.S. economic output, and will add directly to the U.S. federal deficit.

* Individuals would get rebates of up to $600 and married couples could get up to $1,200, plus $300 per child, no limit. Individuals with annual incomes above $75,000 in adjusted gross income (AGI) or married couples making $150,000 in AGI would get less depending how high their incomes are above those thresholds.

* The plan also includes a provision that Democrats had sought that would allow some low-income workers, retirees on Social Security and disabled veterans who do not earn enough money to owe income taxes to receive a check. Those who made at least $3,000 last year and paid no income taxes would be eligible for a check of up to $300 for individuals and $600 for couples.

* As an incentive to encourage business investment, companies would be able to immediately deduct 50 percent of the costs of purchases of new equipment.

* The House package includes raising the limits on "conforming mortgages" financed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to $729,750 from the current cap of $417,000 through December 31. It would also indefinitely raise the limit on Federal Housing Administration-backed mortgages to that same level from $362,790. Such a move is expected to lower the interest rates on those high-cost loans.



More from Reuters

Photo

RIM profit, outlook top forecasts, shares surge

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Research In Motion posted a big jump in profit and issued an even stronger outlook on Thursday, as sturdy demand from holiday shoppers helped the BlackBerry maker fend off the competition.

President Barack Obama delivers remarks at Lehigh Carbon Community College in Allentown, Pennsylvania, December 4, 2009. REUTERS/Jim Young
Analysis:

Would you give him a B+ too?

"I told Michelle when we got here that in six months my poll numbers will start crashing," says President Obama. He's not worried -- yet.  Full Article 

A U.S. Army soldier from Task Force Denali Platoon 1-40 CAV fire a 60mm mortar towards the mountain while Afghan army soldiers cover their ears during a patrol at Nadir-Chawcod district in Khowst province December 16, 2009. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra

Burning borrowed money

The Pentagon burns through $5 million in borrowed money every hour in Afghanistan and the amount is expected to more than double once additional troops are deployed.   Commentary