Changes

The '''American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009''', called a "stimulus bill" by its supporters,

The '''American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009''', called a "stimulus bill" by its supporters,

was passed by Congress on Friday the 13th of February 2009 after a vote sharply divided along party lines. It was supported by Democrats and by the [[Obama Administration]].

was passed by Congress on Friday the 13th of February 2009 after a vote sharply divided along party lines. It was supported by Democrats and by the [[Obama Administration]].

At $789 billion it is one of the most expensive proposals in world history, and is promoted by Democrats as an "[[economic stimulus]]" package that will revive the ailing U.S. economy (see [[Recession of 2008]]).  They promised it would add or save 3.5 million jobs, at a time when over 500,000 jobs are disappearing every month.{{fact}}  Conservatives complain that it is mostly spending to promote long-standing liberal causes.  The Republican counterproposal was similar in scope but totaled only $500 billion.  The bill passed the House and Senate with only three Republican senators voting for it and no Republican votes in the House and was signed by the president on February 17, 2009.  It many ways the stimulus program resembled the [[Reconstruction Finance Corporation]] set up by [[Herbert Hoover]] and Gongress in 1932 to deal with the [[Great Depression]].

At $789 billion it is one of the most expensive proposals in world history, and is promoted by Democrats as an "[[economic stimulus]]" package that will revive the ailing U.S. economy (see [[Recession of 2008]]).  They promised it would add or save 3.5 million jobs, at a time when over 500,000 jobs are disappearing every month.{{fact}}  Conservatives complain that it is mostly spending to promote long-standing liberal causes.  The Republican counterproposal was similar in scope but totaled only $500 billion.  The bill passed the House and Senate with only three Republican senators voting for it and no Republican votes in the House and was signed by the president on February 17, 2009.  In many ways the stimulus program resembled the [[Reconstruction Finance Corporation]] set up by [[Herbert Hoover]] and Congress in 1932 to deal with the [[Great Depression]].

==Provisions==

==Provisions==

[[Image:Stim1.jpg|thumb|380px|Cartoonist Chuck Asay summarizes the debate]]  

[[Image:Stim1.jpg|thumb|380px|Cartoonist Chuck Asay summarizes the debate]]  

It includes about $170 billion for infrastructure projects such as highways, Internet broadband and public-housing repairs. Of that, about $40 billion will go to the Energy Department. Congress hopes that department will hand out grants quickly, but the department has a long record of delays and slow action. The act will fund projects to create a "smart" electric grid, build electric automobiles, and make homes and buildings more energy efficient.<ref> Stephen Power and Neil King, Jr. "Next Challenge on Stimulus: Spending All That Money," [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123448815417580333.html?mod=rss_Politics_And_Policy '' Wall Street Journal'' Feb 13, 2009] </ref>

It includes about $170 billion for infrastructure projects such as highways, internet broadband and public-housing repairs. Of that, about $40 billion will go to the Energy Department. Congress hopes that department will hand out grants quickly, but the department has a long record of delays and slow action. The act will fund projects to create a "smart" electric grid, build electric automobiles, and make homes and buildings more energy efficient.<ref> Stephen Power and Neil King, Jr. "Next Challenge on Stimulus: Spending All That Money," [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123448815417580333.html?mod=rss_Politics_And_Policy '' Wall Street Journal'' Feb 13, 2009] </ref>

There will be $275 billion in tax cuts, including a $800 cash rebate to most families that will be spread out over a year, and an extra $250 quick payment to every person over age 65. The spending provisions cover a very wide variety of projects.<ref> [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/us/politics/29assess.html?hp David M. Herszenhorn, "Stimulus Package’s Components Vary in Speed and Efficiency," ''New York Times'' Jan. 28, 2009]</ref>

There will be $275 billion in tax cuts, including a $800 cash rebate to most families that will be spread out over a year, and an extra $250 quick payment to every person over age 65. The spending provisions cover a very wide variety of projects.<ref> [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/us/politics/29assess.html?hp David M. Herszenhorn, "Stimulus Package’s Components Vary in Speed and Efficiency," ''New York Times'' Jan. 28, 2009]</ref>