US politicians back stimulus deal
Wall Street responds positively as IMF says US recession unlikely.
Published On 25 Jan 2008
IMF: No recession
US investors may also have been encouraged by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) saying it did not anticipate a recession in the US.
The fund, however, predicted a slower year of economic growth in the US, a spokesman said.
“We still see a period of below-potential growth as the most likely scenario of the US, given the economy’s good starting position,” said Masood Ahmed, the fund’s director of external affairs.
George Bush, the US president, called on congress to enact the stimulus package legislation “as soon as possible”, saying the country “needs this boost to the economy now”.
The deal follows days of meetings between the Democrat-controlled congress and the Bush administration on how to save the US economy from recession.
Last week Bush called for action over the economy with a $140bn programme – about 1 per cent of US economic output.
The ongoing sub-prime mortgage crisis, tight credit and rising oil prices have all contributed to fears of a US recession and a volatile global market.
Spending spur
Under the plan, tax rebates would be granted to more than 117 million families in the next few weeks, while individuals would get up to $600 and married couples up to $1,200, plus $300 per child.
Businesses would also be able to write off taxes for some new investments, in an effort to stimulate spending.
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“I can’t say that I’m totally pleased with the package, but I do know that it will help stimulate the economy” Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives |
The package also includes provisions aimed at strengthening the US housing market by boosting the limits on the size of mortgages that can be financed by large mortgage companies such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
The deal was forged in negotiations between John A Boehner, Republican leader; Henry Paulson, the US treasury secretary; and Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic speaker of the House of Representatives.
Boehner said that the agreement would “serve to move along other bipartisan agreements that we can have in the future”.
Pelosi had agreed to a compromise over the package by dropping increases in food stamp and unemployment benefits in exchange for gaining rebates of at least $300 for almost everyone earning a paycheque, including those who make too little to pay income taxes.
‘More to come’
“I can’t say that I’m totally pleased with the package, but I do know
that it will help stimulate the economy. But if it does not, then there will
be more to come,” Pelosi said.
that it will help stimulate the economy. But if it does not, then there will
be more to come,” Pelosi said.
Harry Reid, the Democratic senate majority leader, said the plan could go through changes before being sent to George Bush, the US president, to sign in mid-February.
“We’re going to take another look at it when it comes here [to the senate],” he said.
Reid said senators would also consider supplements to the package, including the Democrats’ wish for an unemployment extension and, possibly, money for highway projects.
Source: News Agencies