Pat Dollard | Young Americans

WAPO:

President Bush called yesterday for a $145 billion stimulus package centered on tax breaks for consumers and businesses to rejuvenate the lagging U.S. economy, a move that drew unusual bipartisan praise on Capitol Hill but did not boost confidence on Wall Street.

The principles outlined by Bush opened a path to an agreement with congressional Democrats that could come as early as next week and put as much as $800 in each taxpayer’s pocket by spring, according to both sides. Bush dispensed with one of the thorniest obstacles to a quick deal by agreeing not to link it to his longstanding quest to make permanent his first-term tax cuts.

“By passing an effective growth package quickly, we can provide a shot in the arm to keep a fundamentally strong economy healthy,” Bush said at the White House.

He then flew by helicopter to Frederick, Md., to tour a lawnmower-manufacturing plant, where he predicted a bipartisan accord. “I believe we can come together on a growth package very quickly,” he said. “We need to. We need to get this deal done, and get it out and get money in the hands of our consumers and our small-business owners to help this economy.”

The reaction in Congress revealed a divide between Democrats on the campaign trail, who assailed Bush’s proposal, and those in Washington, such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.), who expressed optimism about reaching an agreement with the White House.

On Wall Street, however, the president’s plan did little to assuage investors, who are increasingly fearful about the possibility of a recession amid a severe housing crunch, high energy prices and stagnant job growth. More bad news hit the corporate world yesterday, including an announcement by Sprint Nextel of Reston that it is cutting 4,000 jobs after numerous customer defections, and a decision by Fitch Ratings to downgrade the country’s second-largest bond insurer.

All of the major U.S. stock indices finished the day lower, with the Dow Jones industrial average of 30 blue-chip stocks down 59.91, or 0.5 percent, to 12099.30. The broader Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index shed 8.06, or 0.6 percent, to 1325.19, and the technology-driven Nasdaq Composite index fell 8.66, or 0.3 percent, to 2340.02.

Bush drew sharp criticism from Democratic presidential candidates, who accused him of neglecting 50 million low-income workers who do not pay income taxes.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) said Bush’s proposal “makes no sense.” Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) said it would “leave out tens of millions of working Americans,” and former senator John Edwards (N.C.) said Bush is “making matters worse.”

But on Capitol Hill, Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (Nev.) and other Democratic leaders welcomed Bush’s statements. Even Reid, who complained Thursday about Bush’s plans to speak publicly the next day, was satisfied that the president had moved closer to a compromise, an aide said.

“There’s lots of room for common ground,” said Rep. Chris Van Hollen (Md.), a member of the House Democratic leadership. “There’s an opportunity to put ideology aside and come together behind a common policy. There’s a lot of room here for things to go wrong, but at the moment everyone’s on the same page.”

Indeed, officials on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue were using the term “kumbaya” to describe the rare consensus developing after a year of partisan warfare. At day’s end, the contours of a possible accord were coming into focus. Both Bush and the Democrats want a one-time tax rebate, and officials said a compromise package could include the tax incentives for business investment that the president wants, as well as the social welfare spending, such as extended unemployment benefits, that the Democrats want.

He said relief should be temporary and take effect right away, and it should not be paid for by increasing other taxes. In a bow to Democrats, he agreed to leave for another day the fight over extending the tax cuts he pushed through in 2001 and 2003.

Under the plan the two sides are discussing privately, according to officials speaking on the condition of anonymity, the 10 percent income tax bracket would be reduced to zero for one year, meaning single workers would not pay tax on the first $8,025 of taxable income, nor would a married couple pay anything on the first $16,050. That would save them $800 and $1,600, respectively. The money would be sent to taxpayers right away in the form of rebate checks.

A sticking point is what would happen to workers who file but make too little to pay income taxes. Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson said Bush wants “broad-based tax relief for those who are paying taxes,” implying that those who do not would receive no benefits. About 50 million workers make too little to pay income taxes, although they do pay Social Security and Medicare taxes. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimated that a family of four making less than $24,900 would get nothing under such a formula.

But administration and congressional officials privately suggested that this is an area for compromise. The tax cut could be made refundable, or the earned-income tax credit that goes to low-income workers could be increased, they said, much as what happened when Bush and Congress provided $300 tax rebates in 2001 to boost the economy.

Indeed, the administration did not rule out going along with a stimulus that includes elements beyond those Bush endorsed.

“Those are what they are: principles and guidelines,” Paulson said when asked in an interview whether Bush’s comments preclude a bill that includes Democratic priorities, such as increased unemployment benefits. “We’re working collaboratively to narrow the differences and get something done.”

Paulson said Bush’s goal in making his announcement yesterday was “to put forward the outlines and parameters and principles of a program so as to speed the process along, but not to be so definitive that it discourages collaboration and a bipartisan approach.”

Paulson planned to make telephone calls over the weekend, and congressional aides said they hope Bush can reach agreement with Pelosi and Reid during a White House meeting scheduled for Tuesday.

The impact of a stimulus package is open to debate. Paulson estimated that it would create 500,000 more jobs than the economy would otherwise produce. But several investment professionals were skeptical not only of the merits of the package but also of Washington’s ability to work together quickly enough.

“The market realizes Congress and Bush are going to have to get together on it, which is itself is problematic,” said Mark Coffelt, chief investment officer of Empiric Funds. “Given the process, by the time it occurs, we’ll probably be out of a recession.”

On the substance of the package, Bush’s principles came under attack from both left and right. Unions and liberal lawmakers said it would benefit the wealthy, and they pushed instead for large public works projects that would employ many people. Conservative lawmakers and economists said a temporary rebate would do nothing to strengthen the economy over the long term, and they faulted Bush for putting off his efforts to renew the first-term tax cuts.

But the administration and legislative leaders appear more eager to find something to agree on than to stand on philosophical ground and risk passing nothing. Sen. John E. Sununu (R-N.H.), back in the Capitol after weeks at home for the holiday recess, said anxiety over the economy is deep. “A lot of us feel the pressure,” said Sununu, one of the most vulnerable incumbents facing reelection this fall.

Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) said Bush and Pelosi “got the message” from the public that another standoff would be unacceptable. “There’s been notice from the American people that they’re sick and tired of gridlock,” he said. “We hear it all the time. Congress is on the spot. It’s sort of deliver, or else.”

Staff writers Tomoeh Murakami Tse and Paul Kane contributed to this report.