Obama Watch - the stimulus plan

Stimulus plan to be ready to sign after the inauguration - maybe.

From the NYT 12/20/08, expect to see some of this included.

It will be for about $1 trillion for a two-year program. Only items that "spend out quickly, create jobs and constitute sound national policy" will be considered.

The plan will involve these areas:

1. health care financing: about a fifth of the package
• Up to $100 billion to subsidize the states’ Medicaid caseloads
• a down payment on the $50 billion to help medical providers buy information technology and save costs on health records. {Not the most progressive answer to cutting health care costs - wonder who he owes this to?}

2. Tax relief: roughly $200 billion in tax relief for low-wage and middle-class workers, including a payroll tax holiday to "fatten paychecks and encourage Americans to spend more and spur economic activity". {We are to go back to buying in order to save the economy?}

3. Energy-saving programs

4. Public works projects, school construction and renovation,

5. Expanded jobless aid and food stamps