Making the most of the stimulus package

I've read that the new $8000 tax credit is only for first-time home buyers from Jan. 1 to Dec 31, 2009 and it doesn't need to be paid back. So what happen to first-time home buyers from 2008? are we still getting the $7500 tax credit? do we still have to pay it back? or did they really cut us out?

If you want to help the economy let it crash in the toilet. It seems to be working for the oh so smart people in California.

I would like to know why our new President sent a plane to specifically pick up a Senator who was attending his Mother's funeral to fly him into Washington DC to vote on the Stimulus Package and then fly this Senator back to his Mother's funeral all at the cost of the taxpayers when there already was a majority vote?

Isn't this a double standard of trying to get everyone to cut back on spending and he created such excess spending.
1. How do you think the Auto Makers feel about this?
2. How do you think the Bankers feel about this?
3. Why isn't anyone commenting on this issue of excess spending?

Hi:

My husband & I are retired. How will the stimulous help us?

What if you're a waitress and only make $2.13 an hour, how will I see this?

What about people that receive both Social Security and Supplemental
Security Income?

Every article I've seen has not mentioned what Retired persons, who only live on Social Security and pensions, will receive. Is anything being allocated to us poor souls. Thank you.

I am retired, house and cars paid for, do not pan on buying either again, kids are not in college so what benefits will i receive from the stimulus package. am i paying for nothing?

The breadwinner in my home just became unemployed and while things are tight, the mortgage is our top priority. We have never been late on a payment but we call the mortage company looking for some temporary help. They said that we do not qualify for any adjustments unless we are near default. Isn't this backwards thinking? I am trying to ask for help before things get worse and they're telling me I have to already be in the hole!

Questions:
1. I heard this morning of a new program from Fannie Mae for families that wouldnt otherwise qualify for mortgage adjustments. Would this be something for us to look into? and where can I find more info?
2. I also head that this would include computer appraisals. I have friends in the appraisal business and I am interested in knowing how this will affect the business.

Thank you!

p.s. I watch you guys every morning!!!!

Rafer let me tell you how great it is for me in the morning talking to all of you guys there at the morning express, it really gives me something to look forward to, since my children live so far away... Bob is a real jokester to. Robin is a great lady and is a lucky person to have such good people working with her. ..... I really enjoy the tricks that you rafer and Bob play on each other, it's like watching my two younger brothers when they get together... See you in the morning be safe and peace

Jennifer,

I own a small business at a beach on the Gulf Coast. I have Disaster Loans from Hurricanes Ivan and Dennis. I am married and have a thriteen year old son. I do not need a new car, I already have a college degree and not planning on going back to school. I bought a new home in 2004. What will the Economic Stimulas Bill do for me and how will it stimulate my business if the average American will only see an increaase of $ 13.00 per week?

Note: I really enjoy the show and watch every morning.

What about the people who've lost their jobs and aren't working. Where's our stimulus money. I have no job,no unemployment. What do we do?

I'd like to know how the stimulus program is going to help the self employed. We can't collect unemployment, we have NO work because people aren't spending. We don't get a paycheck. We're going to loose our home. What are we suppose to do.

I don't get a chance to go online but watch morning express with Robin Meade and would like to hear your comments on this please

I just have to get this off my chest. It is about the stimulus plan. I think instead of giving the people a $400 tax cut on or checks why don't they just STOP raising all the taxes on things. I can't see how the stimulus is going to help when all of it is going to pay all the tax that have gone up on everything.It is so sad that the people just can't get any help and when they do then they raise taxes so it cost more then we got in the first place.STOP the taxes so me and other people can afford to spend in the stores and go to a movie or what ever.
Thank You

Will this new $8,000 tax credit for First Time Home Buyers be retroactive (like the current $7,500 one is) as if the home was purchased in 2008, so that if you purchase a home now you can get the tax credit this year?

Thanks:)

Third World Business news report about the Gramen lending.
I'm not against the Gramen for helping, the report just makes me wonder why the lady you interviewed in N.Y. had no S.S number.
is she paying income tax? Does she have a state I.D. tax number that
associated with her S.S number.? and if she is self employed is she showing income earned, and filing taxes? and how can one have a business without a S.S. number. In Georgia we must have S.S.numder.
Please understand that I'm not against growth, I'm just very sad that everyone comes to America and admitt to not having S.S number
and wont Pay thier share of taxes, Please correct me if I'm wrong!
Cynthia

With our economy in such a slump, why is President Obama flying around in Air Force One trying to sell the stimulus plan? I believe the simulus plan has already passed the House and Senate. Is the President campaigning for the next 4 years? It is costing tax payers money every time Air Force One flies. Why doesn't the President and Congress cut back like the rest of us have had to do. Maybe the President and Congress should take a pay cut, pay their own insurance premiums and travels, and it would be nice if they paid into the social security program since they recieve their full salary even after serving one term, maybe term limits would help. Why are they entitled to a pension plan after one term, when some of us don't have that option. We need a stimulus plan that just includes Congress!
Thanks
Sharon

I have been a customer of Bank of America for 15 years, my military retirement going to them direct deposit. I have had a $10,000 CD on deposit with them for over 10 years. In the past my wife and I have used this as collateral for loans when needed for home repairs, etc. Recently we contacted the bank about this again and were told "we don't make those kind of loans anymore". The best they could do was a higher interest home equity loan. My credit score is over 800, my wife is over 790. I was amazed and upset over this refusal. This is the safest loan around, over 100% secure. Bank of America received bailout money and will not even make a secure loan. We may be shopping for a new bank. Dale Mangold, Henderson, Texas

Is the component still in the stimulus package for home owners to make their homes more energy efficient? I would like to be able to get new doors, windows and siding and insulation for my home and I need to know first if the $1500.00 tax deduction is still included if one does that. Also, if it is still included can it be claimed only once or in 2009 and 2010?

I think the risks.I think a work cycle.

Jennifer, during the election, President Obama said he would allow people to take up to $10,000 from their 401-k without penalty. Have you heard anything else about this?

I have a few questions. If a person works and collects Social Security will they receive the $400 tax credit and the $250 credit. Please tell me the eligibility requirements for the $8000 home purchase credit. Thanks, Wanda Hopper

Obama said in his campaign speeches that we would be able to withdraw 15% or a maximum of $10,000 from our 401K plans in 2009 without having to pay any penalties. Is this in the stimulus plan?

I'm a fatherless widow with a son, 15 years of age.

I'm a Paralegal, graduated in 2008, received my Master of Science and have been unemployed for more than 3 months. I will continue to receive survivor benefits until June, 2009, when my son reaches 16. I have been aggessively seeking qualitative employment and have not been successful.

What am I eligible for under this stimulus package?

Why is it that if the middle class is seen as the ones who continualy pay the largest % of the taxes everyone is conserned about how much taxes thay are going to pay. Tax cutts, tax increases, Tax insentives only impact the very rich and the very poor. Lets stop bicering about taxes, develope a flat tax systom where if you make a dollor you pay a nickel the goverment will have plenty of money to work with the gap betwene the haves and have nots will begin to shrink and the economy will begin to repare itself. If we want this country to be seen as responsible, lets start being responsible.

I do not believe the Stimulus will work unless the goverment addresses the key issue "The Housing Crisis' . This is how most of the problems started, with housing and banks.....
My husband and I are doing OK with the economy the way it is..but we know alot of people who aren't...
We really wanted to take advantage of low interest rates and refinance our home so we could pay it off sooner....but it seems even though we both have excellent credit....no one will refinance for us....

Jen, I am really upset. I spent a ton of money and purchased new exterior windows for my home this past summer and was told that I could deduct a portion of the cost against my taxes for the year. Well,,, yesterday afternoon I was working on my taxes using Turbo Tax and it came to the portion where you can enter cost of purchases... Guess what, I learned that exterior windows are excluded this year. I was reading some comments online by some other users and learned that the deductions were available in 2006, 2007, and will be available in 2009, but 2008 was excluded. I think the thing that really makes me mad is that I was told by the company that sold them to me that they would be eligible. Of course I have written everyone I know, two senators, congresswoman, the President and you and ABC Good Morning American.. I bet there were millions of people who purchased exterior doors and windows with the idea that they might be able to recoup some of the cost in the form of a tax deduction only to find out that it can't happen. What can we do to correct this travesty. And can we tell the world that we are being screwed????

I probably will not see this on air if you use it, so could you email me any solutions or ideas you might have,

thanks,,

Dan Smith

Here in Oregon, the state senate voted in hb2157. It will reduce the tax credit that Oregonians willl recieve from the feds.

Let the games begin!!!!!

Jim

How will the stimulus bill affect those who receive social security?

If congress (Democrats) allowed the stimulus money to be given to the American People they could not give it to their big campaign contributors in the form of bailouts and grants. This package is a gold mind for congress so they can buy votes and get campaign money. They are not in office to help the people they were elected to serve, they are their to line their own pockets with automatic pay raises and a hudge retirement with free medical for the rest of their lives!!!!!!

I am so sick of the Republican complaining. They rushed through the TARP legislation last fall in record time for the big banks and the rich CEO's. Now they fight to belittle and destroy any efforts to help the middle and lower classes.

How does the additional $25 in one's unemployment check creat jobs? The unemployed are trying to survive, this dosen't add to their disposable income, nor will the $13.00 in my check, when we all know gas is going back over $2.50+

How about those who are self employed? I don't receive a paycheck, so how will I get the money? Last year we received a check. Business is getting bad as well! Losing more clients deeming that service is not necessary to them.

I hope that the stimulus package works ,but here in Illinois the new governor wants to raise taxes. There goes the extra money.

Regarding the Stimulus Pkg...

I haven't heard 1 word to help people on DISABILITY especailly those who earned too much in their payments and do not qualify for ANY gvmnt assistance like medicade or foodstamps!

So much for helping out his campaign!!

I believe this stimulus pckage will work just as well as the last one worked. All the banks got billions of dollars and how did that help me and my family that were struggling to keep our house out of foreclosure? We are still struggling to keep our house out of foreclosure, the bank is not doing anything to help us even though we submitted financial information they wanted and the rest of our bills are suffering because of trying to save the house. There is no help for the little man and woman!

Now, the SAVIOR, that everyone believed would CHANGE everything is coming to the reality that HE can't keep all those promises that HE made during the election. Government as USUAL!

If you do not get the working class to freely spend some of their paychecks on vacations, big screen televisions, new vehicles etc., you will NOT stimulate the economy once the non-working entities have spent their checks next month. Right now we intend to hold onto our paychecks as well as the $15 per paycheck 'bonanza bonus' in order to help pay the anticipated tax increase on the working class from the stimulus package. Unless, of course, the automakers wish to help out by selling new vehicles for the cost of the stimulus pay incentive? After all, some of us have to go to work and could use reliable transportation!

I am very outraged by the President signing this stimulus eiday. We all know that there is no way that all 1100+ pages of that bill were read AREFULLY by Dems or Reps. I have read a small portion of the bill and fell asleep many times. There is a lot of frivilous spending on what I consider to be nonsense!
I am also feeling let down by President Obama. I was undecided as to who I was going to vote for through much of the election. I decided that Obama was for the people of this country when he promised tax CUTS for households making less than $200,000 per year. Well, guess what...he didn't come through. On paper it appears that my husband and I make $156,000 a year, but do you know how much of that is deducted for taxes? We are lucky if we bring home half of that. Now we can expect to pay even more beginning very soon! What good will $400 really do for a household anyway? It seems they gave us just enough to make some happy while the deep pockets are going to live it up on OUR money yet again!
I know that there are a lot of people out there not making NEAR this amount and agree that they need help, however, I am tired of my hard earned money being dealt out to programs that do not benefit any of the REAL American people.
It appears that people who have been life-long recipients of welfare WILL be receiving MORE money from this package as well. What a shame. These people pay no taxes, so why do they deseerve even more of our tax dollars for doing NOTHING. Give that money to the senior citizens of this country instead!
I also see no provision for people who have lost their jobs and are no longer eligib;e to receive jobless benefits. These people deserve a break too you know! It certainly isn't their fault that their company closed down!
I could go on and on for hours, but I think my opinion has been made clear. I hope that President Obama enjoys his new helicopters. Shame on you Obama!

robin, love ya wanted to know about retired people and the stim pkgs
?

Wow! Fifteen extra dollars in my paycheck. What will my family and I do with this windfall? My worries about paying for my son's college education are over.

What if your disabled wheres our stimulas check

UNBELIEAVEABLE!!! He ran on a ticket of modern thoughts and technology, yet he is following a failed plan from the 1930's. You can not just throw money on a problem without understanding what the problem is. For instance, 2 years worth of home inventory???? With everyone's credit taking a hit from unemployment...Who is going to be able to buy these homes even if the economy levels off? The other part of this failed plan is that in the past exports have helped in the process. Can you tell me what this country makes that ANYONE wants?? Sorry but I don't feel that telemarketing is a viable export.

$4 Billion is going to the auto industry! That is the worst move ever???
The purchase of an automobile is NEVER good for the consumer.
What I mean here is that NOT EVER do the consumer get a good deal or a fair deal. ie: If you get past the sticker price with a fake reduction in the sticker price, then when you are ready to sign all of those papers in the rap up of your deal, the dealer turns a CLOSER loose on you to pound out a few more dollars for special deals with your radio, tires, rims or repair packages. If that does not jack up the deal, then the dealer people will put you into a HIGHER interest package of 1% to 5% more than necessary. In other words, the FAKE savings that you got in the beginning is taken back by raising your interest rate 1 to 5 % or more. The dealer ship will tell you that your credit score forces them to put you into this type of LOAN. In other words and in conclusion, NEVER is there a good deal that trickles down to the consumer. NEVER has the dealer ship given the consumer a bargain. This will take a little thinking, but if it is thought out, even the Morning Express can see that we are lied to and cheated on EACH AND EVERY DEAL. $4, BILLION to the industry, it is the worst slam in the face for the consumer. Thank you, I hope this is expressed to your listeners.

i just have a thought or two about the stimulas package . i'm fron nc and i have seen about all of our jobs head in a southern direction . instead of standing in line for a bail-out why don't these companies make and buy american , instead of borrowing money from china why don't the goverment borrow from the oil companys after all the oil companys can afford it they were the only ones turning a profit last year . the stimulas package will not be any good if we get these companys on their feet and they get on the next bus heading to mexico .

I would like to know what the President is going to do to help the jobless. How is he going to the jobless back into the work force?

Thank You!!

i receive social security and i am over 65 and i can't work anymore will social security recipiants receive the 250.00 stimulus check that i seen on news station earlier this month. i would like to know thanks

I don’t expect the $15/paycheck is going to do anything for me as I owe the IRS more than that. So I suspect me getting taxed less is going to haunt me in the future. So I will do my own stimulus package. Drop anything but basic cable TV. That’ll put the money directly into my pockets. Let’s face it TV is nothing but repeats and over and over and over again showings on a daily basis. And with this no one knows what’s up in the analog/digital conversion I don’t feel like fattening cable company pockets.

After being laid off in January, I am progressing to getting my business started in real estate investing and rehabbing. The financing has been the toughest hurdle to achieve. You would think they could relax the lending rules for investors. Although they're in it to make a living, they are also in it to rebuild America and give people an affordable place to live.

Robin,
What are the details on unemployed healthcare aid?

How much will it help?

When will it start at a state level?(when will I see it?)

I am using about 1/3 of my unemployment to pay health premium.

Thank You

You are the number one morning show in america.Keep up the great work.

I like your earlier idea. Instead of giving all the money for the companies that need the money. give each and every American a check to spend on.

We are hearing all these things about homebuyers and car buyers benefiting from the stimulus plan, but I want to know what this stimulus plan does to help the education system. There has not been a lot said about how President Obama feels about education and what he is doing to help the students and teachers in the United States.

hello...i am still listening to you all educate me on the stimulus plan that will be signed, and go, into effect today, by president obama. i think a good amendment would be for the auto makers to give the middle class all the bonuses, istead of the people, who are already making in excess of $100,000 to begin with! we reap none of the rewards from the automakers, and yet continue to buy outrageously expensive vehicles from them. if they took all the money they are giving to the already wealthy, and gave it to the people that need it, maybe they would see better reaction from we the people!
simpson, ap.

As a hardworking American, I am tired of giving up so much of my paycheck to the poor people in this country that choose not to work. Now we are supposed to give them even more with this new Stimulus Plan. Enough's enough!!

Shovel-ready jobs at the local level, i.e., repair roads, bridges, update to more efficient government buildings will provide jobs now and money now to people willing to do those jobs. These jobs may only last a couple of years, but the influx of wages and money into the economy will help now and will continue to help for the next 24 to 36 months, when, hopefully, the rest of the economy will have a chance to recover and more and different jobs will be available. Let's quit crying about the reasons that this stimulus WON'T work and let's get going making sure that it DOES WORK.

The path of this stimulus will not affect me in a matter that will make feel that all the people's money was spent in a worthy manner. The Gov't is taking the people's money and putting into gov't programs. That doesn't help me the, above poverty-below high-class, five days a week worker!! I think its time that the people re-evaluate who they give their money too.

Jenn-
It is wonderful that the Leaders in DC are addressing the financial problems of our country and I know that they have been working very fast and feverently to get this out in as timely a manner as possible. Unfortunately, it is too little – too late for a large portion of the people who are in the direst of straits. (Forclosures, running out of UC benefits, etc.) I lost my job the week before xmas, was turned down for unemployment (I resigned before getting fired), GMAC repo'd my truck, and now the IRS decided to give my tax returns to somebody else. By the time any of the "stimulas" package gets to us, we'll be out in the streets. Sorry, but "change" isn't helping my family.

The "economist" who predicted the stimulus payment if given in a lump sum,would be "saved" and not put into circulation must be making a 6 figure salary with an already fat bank account. For most of us a lump sum would mean being able to do things such as buy car tires, fill our heating fuel tanks, pay our personal property taxes, stock our freezers with food, pay on a house payment/rent, etc. It would not be "saved" -it would be a "SAVIOR" to many of us right now.

WE HAVE WAITED THIS LONG, WHY NOT WAIT ANOTHER WEEK. I AM AN OBAMA SUPPORTER, BUT HE NEEDS TO VETO THIS BILL AND LET CONGRESS GET RID OF WASTEFUL SPENDING OR TELL CONGRESS WHAT TO DELETE. FOR EXAMPLE, PELOSI'S RAT/MOUSE BILL, GOLF CARTS AND OTHER WILDLIFE AMENDMENTS.
THERE ARE REAL PEOPLE OUT HERE THAT NEED HELP SAVING THEIR HOMES WHICH SHOULD COME FIRST!

Everything seems to be focused on the working class. What about the retired and disabled people. The stimulus does not address there suituation. Unemployment benefits exrended and raised but nothing for the disabled or retired. No Raises at all. Most make less than 500 per month. How do we assist them including myself.

I teach Economics. I am older so I have survived a long time and seen a lot. There is no way any of the people who signed that bill could have read it all before it was approved. They are signing away the country and surrending it to the liberals. The bill willnot do anything because they are increasing the national debt and giving money to people who should help themselves. Why not invest the money in job education and put the people on welfare to work. I am sure some of them want to work and they will feel better about themselves, they will have fewer doctor bills because they will not be depressed and they will be able to pay taxes and thereby decrease the debt of the government by helping their government to be more self sufficient. I did a lesson plan for my high school class on the Economic Stimulus plan so that the kids get a Reality Lesson.

How come this stimulus plan has projects for everyone that gave Obama money during the election? I think we need to kick Obama out of office if he signs this bill! We should call for an investigation of the relationships and see if there are direct links with Obama. If Blagojevich lost his job and there was an investigation, please lets do the same to Obama.

this bill is an insult to the working men & women of this country. a slap in the face. terry

I don't think the stimulus package is helpful to the average american worker. How about increasing the wage for people who want to work, instead of just increasing foodstamps and other welfare programs for people who only want to continue milking the system.
I am a 46 year old educated woman and the only job I could get in my area pays $600.00 a MONTH! How am I to live on that? All I want is to have a job that pays me a decent living wage! That would be helpful. I am about to have my car repossessed, maybe if I am forced to go on welfare then I can benefit from the stimulus.

I'm excited about the stimulus package!

I was recently laid off as a Buyer in Manufacturing. I see this package as a tree with many branches.;

Construction, bridges and our electrical grid system......etc, will all create more jobs. Also the manual medical records transferred to electronic format, it goes on and on.

It is about time America invested in America...........long over due.

I'm so grateful we finally have an intelligent President!

On the "STIMULUS" package.
Yes I can see the good for the economy as the programs begin to be implimented,however, I believe what the American people need is IMMEDIATE relief. Not in tax breaks, not in small minute increments. If the government is going to bail out all these multi-billion dollar companies, why not bail out all the people whom are going to have to PAY for bailing them out..
We need an infusion of COLD HARD CASH. If the government wants us to spend more money, well, bail us out so we can.

Robin,
First off........I LOVE YOUR SHOW !!! and everyone on their. Hey Bob, Jennifer W., sportsmans --> WOW arent they cute. I listen to your newscast while putting on my makeup. I don't miss a day ! (My day wouldn't be complete without you guys). I just had to write about the guy that is fixing to go to court about getting evicted from him home. Boy could I relate, the same thing happened to me and my 9yr daughter like 3yrs ago. I can't begin to tell you what that feels like. Thank God my 14 yr. son was able to go live with his dad and stepmom close by. As for as my daughter and I we were very blessed to find a kind person to let us move in to a differentapartment without a deposit, By the way, I am not a lazy person, I'm 47 and have worked for the past 32 yrs. (I began working at the age of 15 as a waitress). The only advice I have to give to anyone faceing this same problem is to hang in there, things will get better. Just pray. Theresa

I lost my job in November. I wasn't prepared, and being a single income househould I didn't know how I was going to make it. But I did. And no one bailed me out. I am still struggling to get back on my feet, even though I was lucky enough to find a new job, and still no one bailed me out or is going to (the bit of debt I increased). Going through something like I did, it was sickening to turn on the news every morning with another million or billion dollars going to clean up someone's mess. Seriously... what's a billion dollars anymore?

Jennifer,
This stimulus package only helps the rich get richer and the poorer stay in debt. This is supposed to be a free enterprise society. If this is the case then businesses or financial institutes that fail miserably should fail. We the American people need not bail out big corporations or financial institutes. No one is going to bail out the average American when he starts to go under, so why should we the American people bail them out. Look at it this way: The three big auto companies could pay for three or four workers for what they pay one and their executives make really bad decisions. Then look at the financial institutes they are supposed to be the well educated and experts on finance, but look where they are now. My whole outlook is that the politicians will continue to help themselves and care less about the American people. Stimulus package is just an excuse to help the rich survive and for the Average Joe to stay in Debt.

Richard

The so called Stimulus is Socialist GARBAGE. We send money to Washington so they can send less money back to my home town to construct a park bench, or street light??? Does that make any sense? It's totally inefficient and all it does is take away government from being close to the people to D.C.

Morning Jen..I read Dale Mangold's entry (feb. 16) and empathize completely....this tax incentive ie. stimulus plan will NOT work if Bank of America will not give a secured loan to a homeowner with an 800 credit score!!!...we are returning to the "old west" in the 21st century...if the banks won't help the homeowner, who will???...everyone will be carrying a gun, and lawlessness will abound (oh, that's already happening) the President has his hands full dealing with these corporate "idiots" who care not for the state of the country...only for the sake of their shareholders....

Please explain how giving monies to the "banks, mortage compnies, auto makers, and the others" help creat jobs. If the same money had been given to people earning under $250,000.00 yearly, they would have gone out and spent it, and the companies would have made the profit needed. No job cuts, the companies would have needed workers to make the products, the government would have collected taxes, and the money would have been repaid. Is this so simple those who are suppose to know, don't see it. Give the money to the people the rest takes care of its self. No Bank Bailout, No Auto Bailout, and No Mortage Failures so no bail out there either. I just can't see how "GIVING" money to industry creates jobs, or even keeps the jobs we already have. Please someone explain. Thank You, Malcolm O'Connell, 67 year old resident of Savannah, GA

The stimulus plan makes me angry, I work in a major grocery chain in Ga, in a poor area of town.I see everyday how wellfare workes, I see the same peaple in the last 15 yrs. I overheared the other day two ladies talking about having more children so they could get more money, they already have 8 kids between them.
These peaple have no plan to get off wellfare.(they eat a lot better than I do) They don't seem to have a worry in the world, they realy dont care about much of anything.
Well why should they , now they get more welfare and more foodstamps.I have started to think that they are doing better than i am.
I realy dont see how this is going to help. they should not let peaple
who have been on welfare for the last 2 or 3 yrs get a raise, I mean they realy do not deserve it

hey robin, you rock and i watch you every day. all this tslk about micheal phelps and the stimulus package, why don't they legalize marijuana and charge a tax on it. beer drinkers will get mad if you tax there beer, pot smokers will just be happy its legal, so they wont mind to pat a tax. thank you.

Funny how Republicans call it socialism when the money flows away from them, and capitalism when it comes to them. Don't you think it's time Republicans started acting less like Republicans and more like AMERICANS?

How will the stimulus package help me when I have been on workmans comp for 2 years. And now I may have to go on social security disability. I understand that the stimulus package is going to help the working class. But what about the people that can't work.

As small general contractor,it seems that removing the incentives for new home buyers along with new auto buyers,is about as stupid amove as the government could have made.After all are these not two of the hardest hit by the economy.It seems the only one getting any stimulus from this package are the ones who helped put us into this situation to start with.
Guess if I could bankrupt a billion dollar company Id get a big bonus also.Instead Im trying to keep a small one a float to help pay the salaries of those who are destorying the economy while lining the pockets of the overly wealthy.

I heard that first time home buyers can be someone who did not own a home for more then 3 years is that true? and if it is I own my own home for a year but I would like to buy my neighbors home with the credit work for that?

Good Morning,
My wife had her hours reduced at the end of 2008. Just enough to eliminate our Health benefits. We have been paying for Cobra benefits since then. How does the stimulis plan provide the Cobra subsidy? Do we have to apply for it or will it happen automatically?

Thanks

I have heard a lot of comments about it's the last 8 years that got us into this mess . Well thats not exactly the truth it started when Clinton allowed N.A.F.T.A. to be signed into law . The war in Iraq does not help much, neither does the oil companys taking advantage of an already bad situation . The lack of jobs is about 100% of the problem . Buy American and invest in America and we will get back on the road to recovery .

Robin,
All the tarps, bailouts, and stimulus plans won't work. 1.6-1.7 trillion dollars combined from all of this needs to come from the taxpayers, but would be lucky to see 1/3 of this actually do anything due to greedy hands along the process. For instance, wanting to spend 50 billion on mortgages just to drop interest rates, wow, who's really getting this money? And yet wanting to spend 50-100 billion on stem research, hmm, what does that have to do with more jobs and the economy? And why is it worth more to invest in that rather than America's mortgage? Want more jobs, reestablish INS for what it was intended to do. Want more money without raising taxes, no more free trade, it's time to make it competitive with America's cost. America invested in America, why won't the government invest back into the American taxpayers where you have a better fighting chance to survive this. You can't give money to those who lost it or made bad investments. They need to suffer like the rest of the WORKING Americans are. Maybe this way they'll learn a lesson. What a waste of money that isn't going to take care of a thing. Dave the Drywaller

What about those of us who have our own small businesses? I do daycare and get paid through parents, will they give me that money? I didn't think so.

Hi Robin,

Since we are borrowing trillions. What is the interest? And isn't there a risk that we will go into an inflationary state whereby the fed will have to raise interest rates? Is it possible as happened with the Japanese debt crisis in the past that the billions or trilions that we borrow and that we tax payers pay for won't really work but could be catastophic for the future of our economic state? What is the worse case scenario?

Life is great. I was about to go bankrupt when I suddenly found out my credit limit debt ceiling was raised $10,000! It worked until I spent all of that. That's okay though. I just looked at my children at the dinner table. handed them my bill and said "take care of this for me".

well I don't see anything in the bill that will help the people, wow 13 bucks and food stamps, how special, butt the gov gets to grow bigger with more control over the people! (socicializam?)

Much like the lady from Virginia earlier, I lost my job in Sept 08. I'm drawing the maximum unemployment for Florida of $275 per week. I am down to my last $3000 of what started as $20000 of my IRA just to keep my head above water. I also have over the last year maxed out three credit cards which I don't feel I will ever be able to pay now. I have 30 years experience in retail management. I know absolutely nothing about building roads and bridges! I figure most of those jobs will be taken by Mexican Imigrants anyway. So how will this help me or most any other Americans. I don't see how it will. If you put a significant amout of money directly in Americans pockets we would pay off bills and have that piece of mind again. $400 tax credit per person seems kind of chincy for us. They don't mind giving away billions of our dollars to useless causes such as wall street and the Big 3 car dealers, but they dug down deep to give us $400. It took Bush 8 years to convince me he was doing some things wrong. It has only took Obama about a month.

Jen,
I understand that there will be a $25 addition to checks for unemployment benefits and help with Cobra – how soon can I expect to see these implemented?

looks like we sold the country to china. what would happen if we don't pay them back?????

Am I the only one who feels ripped off by all of this?? Thank you President Obama for the extra $15 in my check...... but how is this supposed to stimulate the economy?

The only benefit I can think of is that my children can have three boxes of breakfast cereal a week. (I stopped buying cereal due to cost!)

also I think that in the past years people were getting out of control with their spending. They were buying houses they had no business owning or 4 cars for 2 people. This time people will be more careful with their money and live on cash as people should. My husband and I live on cash but we bought a smaller house that is not in the greatest neighborhood but the price was to great to pass it up and we have a old jeep. Keeping up with the johnses ran this country into the ground too.

Finally, am glad that the stimulus will be signed today and I believe it will help stimulate the economy but not all that immediately. If we only be patient and work together with the President .

there are 300 million in the US, if everyone received 100 hundred thousand each, that would be a third of the cost the goverment is spending on bailouts, just 300 billion. everyone could pay their mortgages, buy cars, eat out, and shop, and the economy would be back up again, for just a third of the cost of the bailout, the banks would flourish, the car dealers would flourish, wall street would flourish, and if you only gave it to adults, 18 and over, it would only cost a sixth of the bailout, and the economy would be back again. Why cant all the college degrees in washington figure it out, oh i know, you cant learn common sense from a book or a professor!!!!!!!

Good Moring Jennifer

Everything seems to be focused on the working class. What about the retired and disabled people. Unemployment benefits will be extened and raised which will help those that are unemployed, but i haven`t heard very little information reguarding the retired and disabled american citizens other than a few medical benifits. Has Obama forgot about us. I do consider my self lucky to be retired and not one of unforunate people that has been laid off, this is very sad for the thousands of people that are jobless. I pray each one of these jobless people will surive this crises with minumin losses.

Jennifer thanks for your time
Have a nice day

Jerry Robbins

We All Think It Is The Banks Fault For The Housing Mess When Do We As Americans Take Our Share Of This Mess.... If You Only Make 30,000 How Could You Ever Afford A 200,000 House We Don't need New Cars Every Year. The Time HAs Come To Stop Keeping Up With The Jones's And Keep Up With Our Selves. Look Around You SOme OF The Happiest Familys Don't Make That Much Money.

Like a lot of others that are retired and living on fixed income, I'm also curious as to how the stimulus bill is going to assist me and my wife.

If the real concern is about our unemployment and keeping viable jobs, why is there no provision for placing those companies that outsource production to other countries into a much higher tax bracket and those companies that keep our jobs within the United States in a lower tax bracket as an incentive to keep the production employment within our borders...and this would apply to our major manufacturers as well as those companies/individuals that import products from other countries..

We used to be able to process our own resources and produce our own goods that kept our economy strong?.... Now it seems that our outsourcing is turning our country into one of dependency...rather than one of strength.

Because of the two party system, and radical conservative talk show hosts making every afraid of terms like Marxism and Socialism, real world solutions to this unprecedented crisis are just not going to happen. Which is why this "Stimulus" plan won't work! How simple would it be to take those billions of dollars and subsidize states and cities by making utilities free for everyone for the next year. At least for home owners and renters...Now that's immediate, real world savings!
If we all new just how bad this thing is going to get, we would care less about being labeled Socialist or Marxist.

I've about had it with the bailouts. It's legal for credit card companies to raise rates and payments overnight and get away with it-yet they foreclose on homes owned by the same people who they jacked the rates on. Still-THEY get bailed out to the tune of billions and keep right on soaking us. If the same billions had been given to each taxpaying citizen, there would be no crisis!! Homes would be bought and paid for, new cars bought, old cars fixed, college educations paid for, etc. The banks would no longer own the American citizen with their credit practices and the whole economy would rapidly fall into place-we would be bailing them out by paying things off. They would be ASKING for our business instead of turning us away as a "risk". Until Washington attacks the credit card companies, forces them to have interest rate regulation and unfair practices, the average American will never recover. DC doesn't get it and never will. While I have faith in Obama and trust him the rest of Washington is failing our country just as badly as the banks.

the stim. pac. should include 0% loans and insetives to American co. to produce products to sell to the world. we need to stop consuming so much and get back to producing, not growing the gov.

Good morning. For the first stimulus package, my now ex-husband and I had to negotiate through lawyers as we were going through a divorce. How is the per person part of this stimulus package being handled?

Thanks.

What is the stimulus package going to do for us who are retired and on social security?

I guess stimulating to of our biggest economic problems,like housing and auto sales would have been stupid.Must be since our government seemed to think cutting taxe incentives for buyers of both was the best way to trim the pork from the package.

Robin

I called my Senators, and congress, I wrote them letters, telling them that if they voted for this so called change for the better "stimulus bill", I would vote them out of office. They sealed their own fate.
They did not read this!!! How can they sign it?

Soooooo, with the great 13.00 til December and then 8.00 that will follow, I will put gas in my car to drive back and forth to work, since I will not be able to afford anything else.

Why do they get a cost of living increase "4000.00" and we get 13.00 tax releif? oh yeah that's right...democrates don't pay their taxes...Audit..Audit

If the Il governor was trying to sale the seat...what do you call it when the lobbist line the pockets of our representatives for a vote..Is that not BRIBERY?

TJ Harmon (Tammy Joyce Harmon)

I'm a disabled veteran on Social Security disability. I am not buying a home (I have one and it is not in foreclosure). I am not buying a car, not on unemployment, and do not get a "paycheck". Looks like the stimulus plan won't help me. I'm on a fixed income and still cannot afford additional insurance to cover what Medicare doesn't, like dental expenses. Yet, I make too much money on disability to qualify for food stamps or other state assistance programs.

The government behaviorists are wrong! When we get a check and we use it to pay off debt, somebody got paid and that helps their business, which in turn helps their employees keep their jobs. By paying off debt, it frees up available credit that can be used again for additional spending. Nobody pays off debt and then stays debt-free forever. Give me a break!

To make the most out of the stimulus package we need to cap gas prices considering that is what got us in this mess in the first place. Once the gas started getting out of control it allowed every other company to raise their prices, groceries,utilities, etc. We need to get government officials out of our funds and budget, we need to hire as many accountants as it takes to have them monitor our spending. We are constantly being taken advantage of, exp. all the overages with the highways and streets. We need to be out getting the lowest bid for the jobs. "Hey tough times, why can't we bargain". $15 every two weeks is going to just go to gas and groceries, nothing else. That doesnt help anyone.

Jennifer

.

The unemployment system works when you're unemployed. The other assistance programs in reference of food stamps and Medicare are designed to help the needy. The guidelines are to protect the system from abusers, which I perfectly agree. But the guidelines don't see the gray areas, which in so many cases have denied so many needed applicants.

If a family has a small savings to keep them above catastrophic poverty, the system should not require them to exhaust all funds just to be eligible. In some cases unemployment benefits pushes them out of the loop.

If the unemployed applicant is the sole support provider in the family or both providers are unemployed and if one provider has exhausted all benefits, this family should automatically be accepted in the food stamps and Medicare programs.

I understand the program is set up to stop the ones that abuses the system, but also stops the ones that need the program that are not yet living in the streets.

The whole country is in bad shape, millions of people are looking for work in an exhausted work force. Let's not add on top of the frustration of looking for good jobs, with the frustration of being denied eligibility with other programs.

I do understand that the system is not perfect, and this is a lot easier said than done. But something must be done, to see those faces that are desperate tired, and frustrated is a look that is new to this generation. A generation that has been brought up to believe we are the most powerful and wealthiest country in the world, United States of America.

I know that this administration has inherited this mammoth task. We truly understand the frustration.

Alex Sanders

What is the stimulus package going to do for us who are retired and on social security?

I really enjoy waking up to your show on; I turn it on the minute I wake up and let it slowly wake me; after all I am now retired and dreamed of not having to get right oiut of bed and get dressed the last few years of my working Love you and your show; your beauty and the humor on the show are a nice way to start the day..

Good morning,
I am a single mom,owner of my own business that does not receive a weekly paycheck...I own my own home – but I do pay property tax,heat,utilities... and care for my son whom I may add has Spina-Bifida...We do receive food stamps and for this I am very very grateful already have a vehicle..and could not afford to buy another even if I needed it... I see in no way that this "stimulus package" will help me and my family... What are people like me suppose to do? There has been drastic decline in the amount of traffic coming through our small town of around 600 and we are on a major thoroughfare! I have been struggling now for 2 years to keep my business afloat... How are people like us suppose to survive an economy such as ours? The Government keeps lining their pockets with OUR hard earned income... I pay taxes each and every year and supplement my income through a seasonal job every year( this is only for 5 weeks ) I am disabled enough to where I cannot stand for long periods of time I have no health care.What are WE suppose to do? The ones caught between a rock and a boulder???

I'm not an economy expert, but I am a thinker. The banks need the money for defaulting mortgages. Most people want the government to stay out of it. And the government wants us ( Americans ) to start spending. 400 dollars over a 1 year period is pathetic. This will keep the government out of it, the banks get the money for the mortgages, we'll pay off car loans or buy new cars, and spread the rest into the economy. It doesn't have to be million dollar checks, but it has to be more than 10 dollars a week. Geesh! Why do the banks deserve to get the mortgage money twice? Why should we pay them twice? This package is going to blow up in our faces.

Jim
Susquehanna, Pa.

What i want to know is why is all this (and our tax) money going to the places that most of us can't even afford to buy at?? IE: car makers, and big wig companies that i know nothing about and for sure cannot buy something that they make!! I have had the same car for years and it is on it's last leg but i still cannot afford to go out and purchase a new car..why do they get help but we (as americans who pay our tax monies) drown in debt!!

Oh boy, I can hardly wait for my stimulus!! Maybe 8 dollars added to my social security check, Wow I can buy a loaf of bread and maybe a quart of milk. How generous of them!! Sure will make my life so much better. Why don't they just keep it for the postage they will be paying. What a crock! Give the big shots billions and us peasants dollars. Thanks for nothing, what an insult.

the presidents press sec. Gibbs is stuck on a spin cycle

dear robin;

economic specialists have reported that sending a check for 300,000.00 to each and every person(including children) that our stimulus package would still be cheaper than it is now....and that would surely stimulate the economy. people would pay off houses, helping that industry as well as banking, they would buy cars, that problem solved! and be able to afford groceries instead of toxic peanut butter, another problem solved, see where this is going?

What's with Montana's requirement that we reduce our itemized deductions on our 2008 return's schedule III "Montana Itemized Deductions" by the amount of Federal stimulus dollars we received in 2008. In essence, this penalizes Montanans by reducing the amount of our state deductions by the amount of the stimulus received, clearly "paying forward" a portion of the Federal benefit paid to Montanans to the State of Montana??? What's the point in penalizing us for a stimulus check rather than allowing us to keep it and use it for what it was designed to do?

I am a single mother of 2, I graduated college in May 2008 with a BBA in MArketing and I haven't been able to find a job; that isn't commision only; since I graduated. I cannot even get employers to hire me whenI am over quaified. And I thought that returnign to college would better my family. So how is this stimulas bill going to help me and my family?

Regarding the Stimulus package, "actually a spending of pet projects" you metioned in the news that "Kanasas" is planning on with holding Taxes from the people there? I'm not from Kanasas, but That doesn't sound legal. If I went to the store and paid $5 for milk which cost $3, I would expect $2 back from the clerk, they cannot keep that $ because it's not there's. Same with the IRS! If I sent in $XXX amount and expect a REFUND because I over paid, thats not their money, and it cannot be kept without compensation ie,.interest%.? what does your Legal experts think about this news item from Kansas? Thanks Dave

See Constutuion Amendment 14 – Citizenship Rights. Ratified 7/9/1868. Note History

1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

The money I'm going to receive is going right back to the local government to cover our increase in property taxes. I don't think that's a definition of stimulating the economy, but at least it may help keep our town from going under.

Let me see if I have this right. Now I have 2 loans. My original mortgage that I still have to pay, and now a new one for my mortgage and everyone else's, that my children, grandchildren, and their children and I have to pay. I see that the people on Wall Street know what's going on. So I've decided that I don't want to loan the money to Washington. I still have the right to decide who I lend money to, right?

Jim
Susquehanna, Pa.

I don't know where everyone is getting this $13.00 a week raise. Today you stated it was $15.00. If you take $400.00 and divid it by 52 weeks you don't come up with the numbers your handing out. Do the math then you'll understand why I want to puke everytime the media starts in about it like it's a big deal.

How does giving everyone everything for free do anything for the economy? What happened to working for what you have? We are becoming a society of free loaders, and its the working people who have to pay. If you've worked for 4 1/2 years at a job and don't like it, move on and quit expecting a handout for a mediocre effort. I've been at it for 24 years and it is up to me to get more based on my merits, not the government.
And you think Bush socked it to you, buckle up. This unpresident will make you think your proctologist is fun!
Taking care of my own in California
Peter

I love that we are getting another stimulus check. But it's the people that need to be bailed out. If the people get bailed out then there is going to be more spending. Instead of giving these companies billions of dollars, invest in the people. If the government would give every family 300k, pay their debt out of it, and give the rest to the family that would give the economy such a huge boost. It's the people that are struggling to pay their bills and barely keeping our heads above water. If they would listen the people of the US this transition would be much smoother.

Washington is right about one thing. Our economy won't recover unless Main Street starts spending. Unfortunately, we can't afford to spend right now. And now we've lent money we don't have to Washington. I'm not sure about the rest of Main Street, but now I'm really hurting. For some reason, I don't remember voting on the "kill Main Street Package". But I'm sure I voted it down.

Jim
Susquehanna, Pa.

Here's another point no one is taking into consideration.

If they do add this pittance to my pay check and it throws me into the next tax bracket, I’ll end up losing a lot more than I’ll gain. Just hand out the check. What are they afraid of, we’ll do the same thing the banks did after we gave them BILLOINS to horde?

Big deal, they give me a $400.00 dollar annual raise and after they take their taxes back what do I really get, maybe $300.00. WOW! BE STILL MY HEART!

Explain to me why the President has to fly to CO. to sign this stimulas package. It was made in Washington D.C. and the President is there so why spend the tax payers money to fly to Co. Washington pointed a finger at the automakers for wasting money and here is the President doing the same thing.

what a crock of s@*$! "economists say that in studies, people are more likely to spend money (and therefore stimulate the economy) if the extra money is part of their “normal” pay" you ought to be ashamed of yourself for promoting such bologna! this stimulus package will further destroy the american economy and it is being done by design to achieve that very end! instead of actually investigating what the stimulus will mean and who is behind it, you "journalists" just keep pushing the propaganda down our throats. jennifer westhoven, you are either a globalist shill, or the most uninformed economist ever.

WOW, what a great thing to do . i think that this stimulas plan is only to help the people that have jobs, collect unemployment ,buy new cars, and banks that will not help people that do not have the proper credit scores .But the real story is how about the people that have no job ,with no way to pay there bills because they either can't collect uneployment for reasons be-on there control and can not get jobs because there are None to be had .He Our President needs to rethink all this mess over or he will be out of office in the next four years .i Thought when i voted for him that he was going to be the one, that would do his best to help the lower class of people ,But i think he is only for the rich and that stinks. Thanks for reading Jim

tell the TRUTH westhoven... this is not a stimulus bill, it is another massive giveaway at the taxpayers expense! our government has been hijacked and the bastards are looting the treasury just by telling us (through you!) that this will work in a couple of years if we just go along with the program. what a joke. you should be ashamed of yourselves for reporting this as anything but theft.

Two Comments: (1) Why don't the banks we gave billions in bail-out money to just deduct $500 from each of its credit card customers debt? This would immediate free up spending, at least.

(2) When someone in our church is in need, we all give a love gift. WHY CAN'T EVERYONE IN THIS NATION WHO MAKES ENOUGH TO PAY TAXES GIVE A ONE-TIME LOVE GIFT OF $5 TO THE US TREASURY? Wouldn't this help to reimburse some of the bail-out money? On the tax form, they ask us for donations to the Presidential campaign. Isn't this much more important? Think about it. If everyone who wanted to participate gave $5 as a love gift to the country!

Today, February 17, 2009, will go down in history as the day that a small amout of ink from a pen destroyed the lives of countless American families.

Jim
Susquehanna, Pa.

So, the President, who has an office, a desk and I assume a pen, will crank up the helos, the big bird and all the crews that go with them to go to Colorado to sign the big rescue bill. Hmmm. Could have saved a ton of money by just walking in his office and signing the damn thing.

This only indicates to me that he likes the pomp & perks of the office and isn't really into showing the American people how to tighten their belts while he is flying over their houses, spewing jet exhaust & wasting fuel to sign a piece of paper.

With e-verify stripped from the stimulus there is no incentive or requirement for employers to verify social security numbers and citizenship status. As a result most jobs will go to illegal aliens to perpetuate the open borders and cheap labor agenda at taxpayer expense while Americans continue to suffer. I also guess Nancy Pelosi needs to fund her field mice study, Harry Reid needs his high speed railway even though Vegas is experiencing a massive flight of people, we need more dog walks, frisbee parks, electric golf carts and other "little porky projects" which Schumer claims Americans don't care about. This stimulus is the purposely planned final nail in the lid of capitalism so we will be unable to recover economically and continue on the road to socialism.

We all have to give Obama a chance it took us 8 years to get in this mess it will not take 6 months to get out...Pres. Obama is doing the best that he can with what he has to work with.. Oh robin loved your i-pod! I laughed so haed almost fell out of my chair

This economic Stimulus plan is just like the last two (2008 & 2001). Too expensive & doesn't solve the problem. The Interest on our $10.6 TRILLION dollar debt is $500,000,000,000.00 a year. That’s 500 billion. It is the 4th largest expense that our government has & we are going to add $1.6 trillion to the debt this year. That’s 12.2 Trillion dollars. The economic stimulus package is like putting a band-aide on a sucking chest wound, it might make the victim feel, good, but in the long run they are going die without REAL help. We have got to get spending under control, Welfare, Medicaid & other handout programs must be for only the most needy, not for the irresponsible (lady with 14 kids & no job or father) Isn't it amazing that after NAFTA, thousands of our auto manufacturing jobs went overseas & the big 3 are now losing money, yet Toyota, Hyundai, Volkswagen, BMW, Honda, all have plants in the US & they are profitable. This financial sector is now reaping what it sowed, GREED! Let them fall, protect the American worker & their money but do use money we don't have to pay for something that does not fix the problem. Somebody should ask Brazil about FIAT money, they will tell you about 400% inflation. FIX THE PROBLEM!

How is the stimulus pkg. going to help people like me? anyone got any ideas. Fifty eight, disabled (in the middle of the SSI disability )denial, reconsideration back log( just to get out of the field office it took three months), spouse has parkinson's and works for himself, but is severely limited on how much he works. High Cobra Health Insurance which is going to run out in 4 months. Grown children, can't afford the payments on a new house or car, could use home made energy efficient. Don't know what else to sell to make some money to pay bills. Ideas? There are worse situations out there, I am, even in this situation better off than some, but geez !!!
Oh, and Madoff is still free.. not locked up, If he was anyone else, or didn't have money to pay his defense, he would be... Makes me angry!

This new stimulus plan is complete bull --! That money is going to all of the allready rich! So what goes out to the common folk, that didnt make it rich and famous, like Joe the plummer?! I am a common person in dept, with two kids and my fieoncee on the verg of loosing his job. I am a cosmetologist with the hopes of buying a salon to be the sole provider of my family of seven! We are living with our inlaws plus a cousin, all in the same financial chayos while my fieoncee and I provide for all of us b-cuz of this. We cannot buy a house, and are just living day to day!. THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF THE END!!!! & TO THE GOVERNMENT GET YOUR HEADS AND PRIORITIES STRAIGHT!!!!!!!!

This government just expanded SCHIP which now will give free health care to millions of illegal immigrants already here who will bring their immediate and extended family members and the 5,000 to 10,000 illegally crossing the border every week who now are required to present only a stolen social security number (it eliminated the requirement to present US citizenship status and proof of identity). This will further burden on our LIMITED health care resources in a system already on the verge of collapse because of billions in uncompensated costs caused largely by illegal aliens not paying for their care as they receive free chemotherapy, dialysis and organ transplants under medicare while senior citizens, indigent Americans and veterans face benefits cuts. An Iraq war vet faces the loss of his home because of traumatic brain injury forcing his wife to leave her job to take care of he and his family but an illegal alien with a brain injury in a Chicago hospital received treatment at a cost of 250,000 dollars to taxpayers through medicare. A 9-11 rescuer developed kidney disease because of his search and rescue efforts but was denied a kidney transplant because he amassed 250,000 dollars in medical expenses and couldn't afford it but illegal aliens receive kidney transplants through the UCLA medical campus again through medicare. Pregnant illegal aliens cross the border and give birth at taxpayer expense under medicare and are instantly entitled to health care, welfare, WIC, food stamps and a plethora of other benefits. Taxpayers spend over 400 billion dollars annually for illegal alien health care, welfare, food stamps, education, home heating, other benefits and home assistance along with mortgages (which HUD estimates 5 million defaulted on) while I as retired military with 24 years service and combat disabled have to pay for my health care. Why do you think our taxes are going up? This government cares not about struggling and suffering Americans but only about cheap labor pouring across the wide open border to placate their union, big labor and corporate masters who returned them to office (both parties). Why do you think there is no e-verify? This stimulus is only for cheap illegal alien labor for them while Americans are forced to subsidize it.

By the way, as I read some of the other comments, it sounds to me that we all share about all the same feelings abt this stimulus pkg!
IT SUCKS AND MAKES NO SENCE TO BAIL OUT MAJOR COMPANIES, WHO ALLREADY HAS MILLIONS AND HOW THE -- ARE WE GONNA BUY MORE CARS IF WE CANT F-KNG AFFORD THEM?!!! If pres Obama is really working for the people then why dosent he read some of these comments and take the American people seriously?!!!

If we don't have to pay taxes on our unemployment, does this mean that we don't have to claim unemployment as income when we file taxes for 2008. If we do still have to claim unemployment as income, then this is going to hurt us when we file next year.

Rick,
Black River,NY

Whats in it for the super poor like me on ssi disability i am so broke i can't sleep at night bill colectors calling day and night according to my state i don't even qualify for food stamps and i have a spend down of half my wages per month to qualify for medicade my medical bills have just buryed me

robbin for those of us who are in financial trouble , 15.00 dolls. dosen't help as much as a lump sum. wish they would change that.

Like alot of seniors my only income is social security. I keep hearing different parts of the stimulis bill. 1st is that people on SS will get a stimulis check for $250, then I hear that only those receiving Social Security Supplement Insurance will get The $250. Could you please give the way it reads. Thank You Kenny

If half the $790B ($395B) was used to stimulate the economy every one of the estimated taxpayers would receive $2633.00. That is with no means testing, sliding scale, nothing. That is certainly more than the paltry $400.00 dollars I get. Wow the stimulus doesn't even pay for a weekly tank of gas.

Here is some fun numbers.
If a individual spent a million dollars a day it would take them 2164 years to spend the $790B. Adding the Bush bailout bring the total to 4082 years.
Both the Bush and Obama bailout is a $9933.00 debt per taxpayer if spread evenly. Conversely the government could have given every taxpayer $10k to spend and spend we would despite what the behavioral economists think.

I am age 60, on disability and Soc. Sec. and receive only $24. a month in food stamps. Will the new stimulus bill help me and others in the same situation?

I lost my home to a fire in Nov 06. I can not rebuild. I sent gmac the payoff in Mar 08. They didn't find it till June 08. They cashed the check and I thought all was done. After a few monthes I called to find out were title was. I was then told I was in foreclosure because check was not enough, that I needed new payoff. After monthes of trying sending faxes requesting this finally have new one they have been charging me 700.00 a month in late fees added insurance for a non existing dweeling, and flood insurance. Now they have added lawyer and foreclosure fees. Adding up to more than 40,000 more than the original price of property. Also my mortgage went from 1,080.00 to 1,500.00 and none can tell me why. can they really do this to me? Hopelessly confused.

If the goverment would make a MANDATORY DRUG TEST for everyone that receives welfare checks ,and make it a three strikes policy where after three strikes ,that individual is NO LONGER eligible for gov. aide for the rest of his/her lifetime, this would more than pay for the stimulus package the President will sign today and begin to work on the deficit!!

If things keep getting worse, as I predict they will, then all we can do, as Americans, is stand together as Americans, and fight for our rights!!!

Im gonna jst keep on talking here... Obama, as a person, reminds me of someone who jumps into a situation without thinking about the outcome. He has allready made a mistake, and has allready openly addmitted to it. Which I respect, but how many other misstakes will he make? Just by jumping into decisions made without taking a step back to overview other possibilities, and or concequinces of set a bad decision?

Our country is in such a financial mess and yet the president had to fly to Denver to sign his stimulus bill [at tax payers expense]. Why couldn't he have signed it in Washington D C?

I am self employed doing childcare out of my home I operate as a small business and pay taxes as a small business. What I want to know is how the stimulus plan will effect me. I don't get a paycheck that will show an increase each pay period because I am of course paid by individual parents. So will the stimulus just pass me by?. And what about all the people who are laid off from jobs and downsizing are they just left in the cold. If they had issued 500.00 and 1000.00 limited visa cards people would have had the money to help stimulate the economy buy making store purchases and not saving it or paying bills. I would have made a major purchase like computer ,toys for my business.or clothing for my family of 6.If I was going to recieve a small amount each pay period it would not make any real difference

I think that we should stop paying politicians an income for the rest of their lives after leaving office. None of us ordinary citizens get a big fat check every month if we leave our jobs after two or four years service . I think that taxes should be equal across the board if you are going to tax and take a 3rd of my income than take a 3rd of the income of the wealthy.........oh I am sorry then they couldn't afford that summer house in the Hamptons or the sweet 16 birthday bashes as seen on MTV where wealthy parents throw extravagant parties for teenagers. I just think of all the people who could have had a meal or a warm bed to sleep in

I have a question about the extension of Unemployment benefits. I got laid of in April of 2008 – my benefits began April 11th. All my extensions run out in less than 4 weeks.

What are the nuts and bolts of the extension provided in the stimulus package? I know for for the COBRA subsidy, you have to have been laid-off after 9/1/08 – any such restrictions on the Unemployment extension benefits?

Also, my 12-month-calendar of benefits runs out on 4/11/09 – how will this affect my extension (if I qualify for it)?

I've been looking everywhere for information on how this will work and cannot find anything detailed. I even called the NH Employment Security office today and they don't have any information yet at all.

I would love to know what I'm up against because I'm in real trouble – especially if my benefits end in 4 weeks. Because of the income I was making, I currently get the max amount of unemployment – $1500/month after taxes. If I lose that, I'll lose my house and be on the street by spring. Needless to say, I'm anxious for answers about how the Unemployment benefit extension works and who qualifies.

Thanks!

I think thats terrible that we aren't getting the $1k Obama keep telling us we would be getting back. Some genius decided again what was best for the working class. Because they aren't actually living as we have been, and still must continue to do. I really could have used that $. As a single parent (working & in school, & not on assistance) it would have been used for such extravagances as food, gas & paying monthly bills. I don't understand why the people that got us in this mess are still making all the same decisions. Help the idiots that overspend and can't live on a budget (or run a business on one), and forget the average people that could really use the money!! Well, way to go! They didn't help the economy at all. The working class are the people that buy & stimulate the economy,and we got left out in the cold!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No matter how much money the Government puts into the economy, every penny will be absorbed by the oil companies.

Bailouts, stimulus packages???...... who will it help when you can't get a lower interest rate because the banks rob us blind because we loose our jobs only to get back on track and try to finance and can't....its a vicious cycle!

Don't see the $15.00 won't be helping me. I have been laid off since 2006 and going back to school full time. I am a senior hoping that student loans are still going to be out there for people like me. My hubby has a job we feel is safe, but he doesn't make enough so I have to help with expenses by taking student loans. How will this bill being passed work for me and my family's situation? Will there be money there for those of us who are serious about school? PS teachers have told us to stay in school and ride this out- so I will be returning in the fall for my master's. Love you and thanks for listening. jen

I love all the comments pointing fingers at the Republicans.

If it failed the last time, why are people convinced it will work this time?

im on ssi and just saw the news that people on this will recieve a check for 250.in the next 4 months is this correct,and im wondering what this stimuls will do for those of us that live off 674.a monthi wont be buying a new car ,bad credit due to x hubby,i cant work so i dont pay taxes .im not whinning i am blessed with the 674.so does this stimulas help the truely poor and how please simply explain.

I was wondering just how many people would enter into a crucial contract without reading the fine print? A person ALWAYS should read the fine print before they sign anything. I guess a contract that will change the lives of people for generations to come did not get that consideration. I cannot believe how irresponsible our lawmakers are, it is a disgrace!

Now that the Recovery & Reinvestment package is law, can the dissenters stop the drama i.e. holding it up for cameras, and sit down,finish reading it, and get to WORK on how many people can be helped by what we have so far? I had a thousand pages to read lots of times in college and the profs did not ask if I wanted cheese w/my whine!

My Q: is what about those of us who will not have a paycheck as of April due to layoffs that are coming ?. I am truly concerned that I will not see any of this money because I will soon be unemployed Will the stimulus money be added to my unemployment check then?

We are married, 47 and 59, one child, both unemployed, we get no unemployment because we were self employed. We get no disability. We live on fixed income of interest from IRA, Keogh, and other investment accounts, all of which have gone in the toilet with the market crashes so our income is severly reduced. Neither of us is a veteran. We are struggling to meet the increased bills every month on less and less income. How will the stimulus help us?

I find people who aren't in bad shape in their lives are getting the shaft. If you work hard, make something of yourself, you aren't rewarded for doing well. The people who only give a little bit of effort, work for minimum wage, bite off more they can chew, are always wanting more. The auto industry is a hillarious example of this, Why! Why! Why! do we need 7 versions of a vehicle. These companies should produce 3 vehicles, a car, a truck, an suv. Make them all a standard, and money will still be made.

What a surprise! The auto makers need more money. Why? To produce more vehicles when there's no room for them on the already packed sales lots, when they're cutting 50,000 jobs and when people can't afford the inventory out theere. This is crazy. Give the money to the people to pay their credit card debt, make that mortgage payment and keep them going until they find a job. They'll spend, that will create more demand for more services and products which will result in more jobs. Are the people in Washington the only ones who can't understand this?

I understand that many homeowners are having difficulty with making their mortgage payments. My husband and I have been fortunate enough not to be in that position yet, but we are nervous about our credit cards. Our incomes both decreased this year and the only way we can purchase necessities is to use a credit card. Eventually this is going to hurt us even more, because the payment to the credit card company will be too large for us to pay. We've researched bankruptcy (chapter 7) and credit counseling, but we make just over the income for chapter 7 and credit counseling would raise our payments. Does the stimulus package address the credit card companies and how they affect the consumer?

This is just a follow up on your vet question. How does the one time $250 payment affect affect my step children who get payments because their father is disabled.

I am on School employees retirement disability.. i get paid once a month will i get the stimulus added on my retirement ,, i do file and pay federal taxes

Robin in Ohio

It does not help to stop foreclosure on a house,
But it does help to stop foreclosure on a HOME!
I'am tired of these ivy league college pukes forgetting that there is a HUMAN cost to consider that accounting all to often avoids. The stability of the family , pays countless rewards.

I as well am curious. I know last year when we received our check it was not for the amount we were promised. We are a 2 family household who work 40+ hours a week, pay our taxes, and only received a little over 300.00 back this year. But yet I see people who did not work all year, received food stamps, and lived off the taxpayers. Now they receive anywhere from 4000.00 to 7000.00 in tax return, and are getting a raise on their food stamps, live in government housing for near free, and all the other perks. Where is that fair for us hard working class people? Should we all quit our jobs, have a couple babies, and wait for the big payout every year from the government. At least that is what I see the government is teaching us.

why is it that lawmakers left out 2008 new homeowners in the stimulus? why must we repay the 7500 dollar credit and 2009 homeowners won't have to? Some would say well they just didn't have enough money.... i say thats horse malarchy. They sure found a way to provide 50 million for an endangered field mouse in san francisco and billions for ACORN. I feel confused and extremely disappointed in my government. As a disabled veteran of OIF, I suppose I should expect this from government as they have let us veterans down so many times before!!!

somebody tell it like it is. members of the senate and the house will not vote for any bill unless there is money for them to take home or a promise of money in the future. with good reason. they can not keep their job unless they take money back home. as long as the congress is in charge of money our finances will continue in the wrong direction. the problem is the people who do the voting.

Hey Jennifer

So i was wondering if part of the stimulus plan is going to help those with mortgage problems... what happens if some of these people are multiple home owners that rent out their property that cant afford to pay of their mortgage? Are we bailing them out to help them make money charging people rent? or is there something in place that will prevent those home owners from receving our hard earned cash to make more money?

All monies that are saved is put back in the economy in some way. Under the Bush administration a tax rebate was given. Each individual that got a tax rebate did in one form or another spend that tax rebat even if they paid off a bill or saved it. With the administration now there are seniors and people who are on fixed income that this stimulas does not help. How can a 90 year old getting 1200 $ a month SS who pays out rent and utilities plus other, get help. They have no morgage, they can not buy a car, all they can do is survive on 1200 $ a month. An up fornt check as the Bush administration did would help out these individuals.
Thank You

Come on what is $15.00 going to buy in 2 weeks ? I am sure that everyone would give the fifteen bucks back if everyone could have their jobs back an also the ones that dont have a job they wont even see $15.00, I say lets cut the Sen. an Congress pay Let them know what it feels like to live in the middle an lower class an wonder how your going to pay your bills,they dont have a thing to worry about

Ok my hubby gets disability payments but me and 3 kids get a payment for being dependents of him. So my ? is do we also get the 250 each or just my hubby.

Dear Ms. Westhoven:

I've yet to hear how the "stimulus package" will help people in my situation - self-employed, freelance, doing piecework, receiving paychecks with no taxes taken out, and making quarterly payments to the IRS. Any information you can give me would be most welcome. Thank you in advance.

–B.

We need to let the free enterprise system work and stop the stimulus package now. The debt we're positioning today will show up as taxes in the near future and as debt that our children will live with forever. We've lived through one depression and we'll live through another. Lets get it over with.

The recently signed economic stimulus package also includes a direct benefit to students and families in the form of the American Opportunity Tax Credit, which for the first time makes the cost of college textbooks and course materials elegible for tax credits.

Equally important is that 40% of the new $2,500 tax credit is refundable. This means that nearly one-fifth of current high school seniors who would have received no tax credit under the prior system will receive a tax cut to make college affordable.

Full disclosure: The organization I work for, the National Association of College Stores, has long been an advocate for including course materials in tax credits and the elimination of state sales taxes on course materials.

Bailing out the auto industry is not just about helping the 75,000 US UAW workers, it's also about the 3.5 million people who work to supply parts to support the auto industry. People need to stop blaming the UAW and their wages, UAW workers hourly wage is the same as Toyota!!

I think that giving money to banks and auto industries isn't going to help the economy at all. In stead of giving billions to big companies, give the money to the average person with under 70K a year salaries. you could give each person in this group 25-15K. Then they will pay back the BANKS, they'll buy HOUSES with a good down payment, they will buy NEW CARS ( I would), and over all increase spending. This would have a higher chance of bailing out the large corporations.

Also they need to pass a bill that states that if you buy American you pay little to no tax, and they can double the taxes of imported goods to help put the spending focus on American products, especially in the auto industry. I would have more interest in buy a american car if I could save thousands in tax and get a low interest rate.

Car Companies!
All they have to do to look at the European cars! Even if they get the previous model Presses etc. they would safe a bundle. AND not to forget the Vehicles!! You can get a Ford 4 door Ranger Pick Up with a DIESEL in Europa!! All most all of the Cars have 4 Cylinder Engines and they are powerful!! The North American REDNECK "need" for a V8 engine is ridiculous!! The Government should put a $5000 tax on V8 Engines for private use. The "4 Bangers" are usually made out of Aluminum making them lighter and recyclable!! How come the Europeans can produce cars that can make 40-50 even 60 miles to the gallon and only the foreign imports into the North American market are up to par.
Don't tell me about safety. The nord american "Lead Sleds" are NOT better in an accident then the foreign makes. When the Germans can produce a 4 Cylinder car that can go 150 miles on the Autobahn, I wouldn't even begin to think to drive a Buick, Cadillac, Crown Victoria, etc. etc. V8 on the Autobahn at any of those speeds, since they would fall apart after 60 miles on the road at that speed!!
Quality!!?? The mantra "Good enough is NOT good enough" doesn't apply to the "Big 3". "Get them out the door and we fix them later when they come into the dealer for repair and maybe the warranty is over and the customer has to pay for it." Seems to be the order of the day. How come foreign manufacturers can offer 5-10 year transferable warranties, when Detroit can barely scrape by with 3 years Powertrain and only one year full coverage??
Unless Detroit can change to the European model, they will come to the trough over and over again. If they can't change, let them go belly up. The dinosaur couldn't change and see what it got him.
Just venting... feels good..lol.
Regards
Wolf

Owning a home is a privilege not a right. Bad home loans for people who couldn't afford them got us in this trouble in the first place.

My husband has been self employed in the construction business for 25 years. He is a small business and due to the economy had to resort to over the road truck driving as a way to try & make income for our family. I am a stay at home mom who also helps my husband with his trucking. I have heard nothing that will help he & I in the stimulus package. Neither of us collect unemployment, we are not disabled or retired. Because we own our own home we do not qualify for food stamps.We do not plan to purchase a new home any time soon and because he is self employed will not see any increase in our paychecks. Having gotten behind in some of our payments, we are not "well qualified" when it comes to borrowing! How will this help us and others like us?

From what I been looking at this is a spending bill. The single working people do receive nothing. The construction jobs are temporary and do not last long. Where is the help?

What about those of us who have done everything right. We pay all our bills, own our home, have never received welfare of any kind, bought only what we can afford. I'm tired of paying for everybody's mistakes. Do we get anything out of this Stimulus joke?

I get my Social Security check automatically deposteid. Will the $250 automatically deposited as well? It would be a big savings to do it this way rather than mail a check. I have heard nothing about this.

Sincerely,

Marilyn

Getting tired of the endless debate, false infomation and partisan bias. Lets split the union into 2 countries, those that dont want the stimulus and those that do. In the first group we can eliminate all federal tax and payments no social security no welfare no medicaid give the republicans what they want, every piece.. BUT the next time a twister, flood or hurricane rips thru, guess what S-O-R-R-Y you are on your own

Where is the help for those of us that are responsible and paying our bills? I have been forced into early retirement by GM, at 70% of what I would have had at my full retirement age. I'm struggling just to pay my bills but I have NEVER been late on any payments, and my home is 7 years away from being paid for. I didn't buy a new house a few years ago when all the mortgage companies were making me all kinds of offers on homes that I knew I couldn't afford. I was being responsible, but my home has lost value (at least $50,000). Now I'm struggling, but there is no help for me, or others like me. Maybe I should default on my mortgage for the first time in 20 years, so I have some help too. I feel like we're the forgotten Americans.

Obama stimulus package is just peachy for people on welfare, people on SSI, etc. what about those of us that dont have children, full time student, household with 1 income who does not qualify for assistance because they say making minimum wage is making too much. What are we getting out of this plan?

Hi – I just saw your segment where those collecting Social Security disability payments will get a one time $250 check. Now, I am also under the New York State teacher's disability retirement System. Will I receive incentive payment through that? My wife doesn't work, and I have been the sole financial provider. How will this effect any payments? Will she get some kind of a check, or since we file jointly, will my check be larger? Thanks so much!

ECONOMIC STIMULUS '101':
1] FED TO CUT ALL BANK/FINANCE INTEREST TO PRIME + 5%.
EFFECT: BANKS HAVE SELF INFLUENCED PRESSURE TO CUT THEIR OWN COSTS/EXCESSES AND TO OFFER MORE LOANS, AND GIVE CONSUMERS A BREAK INTHE NEXT MONTH ON LOAN PAYMENTS FOR MORTGAGES/AUTO LOANS/STUDENT LOANS/ CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS AT NO COST TO GOVT. OR TAXPAYERS.
2] SUSPEND INCOME TAX IMMEDIATELY FOR 1-1.5 YEARS GIVING IMMEDIATE [1 WEEK] INCOME TO EMPLOYEES OF 20-30% AND TAX CUT TO BUSINESS WHICH CAN SUSPEND WITHOLDING TAX PAYMENTS IN LESS THAN ONE QUARTER, STUMLATING COMSUMER SPENDING. AS A RESULT, GOVT. WILL BE UNDER PRESSURE TO CUT ITS OWN WASTE AND REDUNDANCY AS WELL AS TIME TO FIGURE OUT A BETTER WAY TO CUT GOVT. SPENDING AND CUT SOCIALISTIC TRENDS.

ALL OF THIS RESULTS IN NO NEW SPENDING BY GOVT OR TAXPAYERS!!!

The only way out of this mess is to givethe private sector incentives to take thier money off the sidelines and out it into the economy! How? Instead og the government dumping massive amounts of money into the system, use the money to give tax credits to investors willing to take some risk. Investors will pay homeowners monthly payments for compensation. Small business will hire the unemployed-give them the money they would be paying out for unemployment benefits and they will hire these people back! Right now, no businessman is thinking expansion or growth. They are hunkering down for worse times, which will happen at our present course.

i am a 46yr old parapalegic and disabled will i get anything off this stimules package because in the last one we the disabled recieved nothing.

I work as a therapist in the nursing home system and was wondering how the senior/disabled residents will recieve their $250 stimulus check. If it is automatically added into their SSI/disability check that is directly deposited into the nursing home account, are there rules in place stating the nursing home must give this money to the residents? Or will they be allowed to keep it and spend their resident's money according to what they feel the money needs to be spent on for them and/or the facility?

Also I was up for my annual review and was told that due to the economic status of the US, that raises were going to be nothing or next to nothing. I went into the medical field for many reasons, one being stability. How is the economy effecting medicare/medicaid, which is where the bulk of our income comes from?

Thanks for your time and I love y'all!

If most of the coverage has been against the "bail-out". And everyone I know thinks it is an aweful idea. Plus we have a congress that increases the pay of the Post Master while they disrespect the leaders of the large car corp. Can we start over and just get all new people in office and get maybe a couple of regular of people who actually pay thier bills themselves. I bet our elected officials haven't paid thier own bills in years.

The question for the show is "What are you getting from the Stimulus package?" The answer is - "screwed." Stop talking about all the handouts and start talking about who is paying for them. The government is not handing out freebies; the taxpayer taking on debt today to be repaid tomorrow. The Congressional handout today will become an IRS hand in your wallet tomorrow. As someone who pays taxes (and quite a bit by the way) I am getting increasingly resentful of the unnecessary expenditures packed into the stimulus plan. Here in Tennessee, we will get about 4.7 billion. Of that, about $1.9 billion could be considered real assistance to hurting families and the majority of that ($1.2 billion) is in the form of the $400/$800 tax credits. The remaining $2.7 billion of the $4.6 is "discretionary" spending - nice projects, sure, but you don't spend more money when you are broke. The fact the government was running a deficit before this crisis hit is proof it was broke. Please stop telling everyone what they are going to get! The shovel being used to throw money at the problem has a SHAFT on it, and that is what the TAX PAYERS are getting. I am in favor of helping hurting families, but the "stimulus" is beyond ridiculous.

Two Words "FLAT TAX" That is the answer.

Even if the automakers did recieve the money, how would that allow me and a billion other Americans to buy a vehicle?
I still believe $100,000 each should go into the hands of the adult American people. Then you’ll see the automakers get their money! (Housing industry and other businesses would benefit also). My guess is that most Americans would immediately spend their $100,000.
As for myself I would be able purchase a vehicle (American of course), pay off medical and credit cards debts AND be able to purchase a home! How about that for putting money back into the economy!

Regarding the stimulus plan, is there anything in it for me – a person who is retired but not old enough to start collecting social security?

Listen, you say people on Disability (SSI) gets a stimulus check. But the problem is, for example my Mom, if she receives this check and cashes it, her disability check amount will be decreased, and her Food stamps will be decreased. These people will not get ahead. The social system will not let any of them get "A Little extra" without penalize on their medical, food, or personal amounts. My mom is very sick and cannot afford to decrease her medical. It is a lot of red tape to sign up or update all this information.

How does the stimulas help the self-employed do we get help

people love to blame everyone except looking in the mirror I am so happy people see it the same way I do. People bought houses they had no business owning and cars they shouldn't of. Now with this
Stimulus package I a mother who only spends cash has to pay for everyone else who treated their credit cards like free cash thanks guys

NOW THE AUTO MAKERS NEED MORE MONEY??? IS THIS GETTING OUT OF CONTROL...? IM STARTING TO REALLY WORRY NOW!

How will the Stimulus package help people like my boyfriend and myself?? I am a Special Ed Teachers Assistant making only 12.56 an hour (which we all know doesn't go very far!) and My boyfriend was laid off over a year ago and finding it impossible to find a job. We don't own anything, just a vehicle which is in the process of reposession. We are no where near able to buy a home (can barely afford to rent!), and an extra $15 in my paycheck every two weeks isn't going to pay the rent or bills! I'm just curious what it is going to to do for the average person that doesn't have much! I am a big fan of Obama, but I just don't see this helping people like us...

Jennifer,

I and my wife are part of the well documented unemployed. I have a Bachelor's in Business Admin., with a minor in Acconting. I am wondering how bailing out the Top of the food Chain stabilizes the bottom supporting grunts.

I am wondering, since there a what, some 250 M residents of the US., what would be the economic result of giving each verified tax paying US resident , one of those Billion of dollars. WE at the bottom can't throw it away any faster than the flashy Top Managers, and we would by houses, cars, vacations, and the broad list of 'not selling' items.
We might even invest and save, provided there is a media we can trust to have our money available when we want to use it.

Is this doable?

Jennifer,
Can you explain in simple terms how the new home buyers credit works and if there is a time limit on the purchase? I've heard the home has to be purchased by Aug. How much of that "credit' do people actually see and how do they receive it?

I have had your show on all day; and since the announcement of the stimulus package, and housing help provisions, I have not heard anyone talk about help for those of us who are behind in their mtg; due to unemployment, and what help is out there for us.

We are @ 6,000.00 behind; due to my fiance being on unemployment since jan 08......we currently have an adjustable rate, and our regular payment is actually low. We are so behind though now, we can't come current, and are waiting for the co. to review our file for loan modification. It seems to me like the last legislation was better for us- to reduce our principal. I would love for us to be able to put the arrears on the end of the loan and start fresh- not be put on a forbearance agreement again, which is much more than our actual payment.

I would like to see someone answer this on the show- is there anything in the current plan for homeowners such as ourselves??
and if not, what should we do?
thanks.

So, in the name of democratic progressiveness in America, you pay women to cut the babies from their wombs.
These potential military personnel, homeowners, problem solvers and workforce are eliminated.
How stupid is that, and why isn't the media addressing this?
Because the media, including CNN is controlled by the wealthiest people on the planet, and the fewer people their are in the world, the less threat there is on their bottom line.
It's all about the greed, not the need.

As a newly laid off mom of two, I find that unemployment doesn't pay bills. There is no assistance for people who have saved a little.
What about the COBRA? They want $1200 per month and that leaves nothing to live on. I see that the stimulus package will pay for 65% but when does this start? How do you sign up for the assistance? I ca't find any answers and calling anyone is frustrating – no one answers!

For Jennifer W., How are the people going to get their stimulus checks (and how much) that get their retirement check form their employers? Such as the school system?

How are the people that worked for the school system on retirement, going to get their stimulus check and how much?

It appears, to me anyway, that Obama’s plan is designed to help everyone who has mismanaged money; i.e.: US Automobile Manufactures, Banks and Home Owners who are under water with their mortgages.

What about those of us who own small businesses that are about to close our doors because the people who have managed their finances are tightening their belts and not spending money.

This plan will not stimulate the economy; it is throwing money to those who can not manage it to begin with. I thought that the #1 objective was to create jobs? Why then would we give billions of dollars to an industry who have already said they are going to cut more jobs…Chrysler and GM.?

I am not an economist, just a small business owner who has a little common sense. When I have something that is failing, I get the heck out of it I certainly do not pour more money into it. It looks to me that Obama’s plan is throwing $$$ at the wall to see what will stick.

Maybe Obama should consult businesses that have and are successful to see what their thoughts would be.

Jennifer, thanks so much for the info/help you give us.
I am unemployed. The States do not tax (i.e. Income Tax) the unemployment monies I receive, but the FED does tax it. If the FED really would like to help the unemployed, why not exempt unemployment from income taxes. After all, the money we are getting is money the FED has received via taxes already. Seems like double dipping to me. I shake my head in disgust! Thanks again, Larry

My husband and I are looking to be first-time home buyers and both our credit scores are less than stellar. He is working full-time in the electrical field and goes to seminary school in the evening. I am a stay at home mom with 3 children. My oldest son is special needs and is 6 years old. I also have a 3 year old and a 4 mth old. I bring in no income. We live in a home we are looking to buy. My credit is better than his however he is the income. Would there be anyway to see if we qualify for any loans?

Hi Robin,
I enjoy your show very much when I get a chance to watch. Big fan of yours.
I have a great idea for all this stimulus crap we are seeing. Giving all this money to all these big banks is like giving the fox the key to the hen house. As for what GM and Chrysler want, good idea, let BIG OIL BAIL THERE BUTTS OUT, they make billions in profit every year, the auto industry makes a product that consumes of the fuel they supply. They kind of go hand in hand don't they. Put the money where it belongs and that is in the hands of the working people where they have more money to spend. More money to spend for the families and everyone else would jump start this country more than anything.

Thanks for your time,
Randy

Hey Jennifer:

What a mess we are in!

If only regular people like myself and a million others could be in congress and the house. I think we could take care of the problems easily!!!!

I am self-employed age 60, business is not as good as it has been in the past, my hubby got laid off a year and a half ago, trying to find work picking up Pidlly jobs part time, nothing full time It seems that no one wants to hire "older" experienced people. He has had to withdraw pensions getting hit with penalties and yes TAXES for us to make ends meet. So there goes our retirement.....

Health insurance is $1400 a month for both of us. That sucks!!!

so here is my idea.

First off, Anyone age 59 and older should have the opportunity to either keep working or retire. Now, if we chose to retire we could collect social security and be able to have medicare coverage perhaps at a slightly higher cost.

So the government would do a lot better to put a lot of bail out money towards social security and medicare.

Next, all the job vacancies from people electing to retire would make room in the workplace for new people getting to work. Companies would make out because they were paying a seasoned employee more than what they would pay a new hire.

Looks like a win-win situation to me and it could be a viable part of some kind of solution.

There could be a lot of creative ideas out there, this is mine.....

Louise:)
l

Greetings Robin & Jennifer,

I am watching your show too much lately becuase I don't have much work. But I do find it entertaining

I have two issues to comment about.

First, while all of this talk of economic stimulus and belt-tightening is going on, NO ONE has brought up the subject of OVERTIME, particularly in govenment jobs that pay hourly (like the post office, for example). I guess the reason may be that business and government find it less expensive in the short run to have employees work overtime than to hire enough employees and give them all benefits (particularly medical and dental). So while people are out of work either on or off unemployment, or (as is my case) underemployed, others are working overtime, which in the long run will stress the benefits providers, not to mention the potential abuses by employees taking sick time or vacation time one day and working on their day off and getting overtime pay, etc.

It seems to me President Obama could MANDATE a moratorium on Federal hourly employee overtime (while paying people what the jobs they are doing are worth, of course) and hire enough people to do the work. Similarly, the President and/or Congress could require any employers, their own staffers or or even States taking aid from the stimulus package to refrain from creating or funding overtime for their employees. This would probably result in much more job creation. With a few pen strokes a lot of jobs could be created and money saved.

Second, it seems to me the President is travelling on Air Force One an awful lot early i his administration (did he really need to go to Colorado to sign the stimulus bill?). It costs the taxpayers a great deal of money to fuel the plane and provide for security and remote telecommunications, lodging, etc. when the President travels. Maybe President Obama should lead by example more and stay in Washington DC unless it is essential for him to travel.

Just a couple of ideas to help our struggling economy.

Thanks for your time.

I completed my education to ensure that I can have a good job. Still have a steady income, enough that I did not qualify for a "stimulus check" last year. Tried the restaurant business a few years ago, gave jobs to people in my small economically depressed town. Did not do well, the IRS even threatened to put me in jail if I was not able to make my tax payments. Ran up a credit card bill trying to keep business afloat. Now the credit card companies have jacked up my interest rates to around 25%!, this is despite making my monthly payments and paying them down.

Despite this, am still staying afloat, still making my monthly mortgage, although I see my money being spent on interest and paying down my business loans.

My question is: where is my bailout? where is my entitlement? how come my taxes are working to pay for everyone else but me?

I guess you have to screw up big time and make a loud enough noise to live off everybody else who have been responsible enough to take care of themselves.

Laurence

I am on Soc. Sec. and Disability. At age 60, I recieve only $610. a month, and $26. food stamps. At the present, I live in my 87 yr. old mothers home. When she passes away, I will no longer have a place to live, and will be depending on the $610. a month for everything.
Instead of giving the Auto Industry yet another bailout ( their 3rd one), how about helping the ones who really need it. If we can't afford to have a home, or even an apartment, how are we going to afford to buy the cars that they are making?

With the new package for people and thier mortgages I have a question. My wife and I paid off our mortgage about thirteen years ago and have owned our house free and clear ever since. Is there anyting in this package for us?

Thanks.

I own a small used car business. I haven't heard anything regarding the stimulus checks going to people like myself who are self-employed. If the stimulus is added on to people's checks, then do self-employed individuals not receive anything?

I have been watching the coverage of this chimpanzee attack all day and I am disturbed by the perspective of the coverage on this story. I have a PhD in physical anthropologist, which involes some training in primatology (the study of non-human primates). Before I was a physical anthropologist, I was an animal health technician and have worked extensively with animals, including exotic animals. This story is not being told correctly. This chimpanzee was also a victim in this. Chimpanzees differ from humans by only 1.4% in their DNA. They are highly intelligent, hierarchically organized social animals with great strength. Professional handlers of captive chimpanzees will tell you that (particularly male) chimps must be placed in a situation of confinement where they are no longer in contact with humans as they are reaching adulthood because they become extremely aggressive. Their intelligence combined with their superior physical strength makes them extraordinarily dangerous to humans. Jane Goodall has witnessed acts of murder and war among wild chimpanzees. I would note that all of what I am saying about chimps – aggressive, highly intelligent, dangerous – is also true of humans. As with humans, they are also capable of love as Jane Goodall has also noted. While I have no doubt that this woman loved this chimp and probably vice versa, she had no business keeping this chimp as a pet. She is responsible for this chimp's death and the injuries to her friend. Captive chimps are NOT domestic animals. They are wild animals being held in captivity – even ones born in captivity are still wild animals. It is the height of irresponsibility for her to have kept this animal as a pet and it is also irresponsible not to report on the fact that she should not have had it as a pet. How many times do have we have to see these same kinds of tragic stories when people have wild animals as pets? It rarely ends well for either the people or the animal involved. You should be telling this side of the story too.
Best,
Cathy

Ok heirs my thoughts...Hopefully the presedent it an honest man! He has alot of half-cocked ideas, it sounds like, and if this stimulus plan is really for the people then make a believer out of me! With allot of this money going toward huge, rich companies, and some going toward healthcare, & social security, then all we have to do is go on wellfare? How about that chick with 14 kids and is getting everything she wanted, fame, fortune, and the ability to sit on her lazy big butt and collect taxpayers money. Hummm... much like the government and other major co. like GM & ford!!

Hi Jen, Love to watch you every morning! Here are a few questions i would love to see answered.

1. Did the loan agreements that the banks/companies signed to get bailout money include a 'no more offshoring jobs' clause?

2. What happened to the gov't setting up a federal 'bad bank' idea? this would have allowed the gov't to buy the bad loans, get them off the bank's books freeing up credit, given the banks cashflow and let the gov't set the rules for modifying loans. this seemed like a better idea than just handing the banks scads of cash that they are using to shore up their bottom line and not lending out.

3. Regarding the 'make work pay' stimulus payouts. If we choose to have it added to our checks rather than wait and take it at year end, aren't we paying taxes on that amount and really getting less?

Any answers you can provide would be greatly appreciated!

Should we really be interfering with the economy? It seems to me that the economic "growth" of the last 8 years was based on debt, people spending money they never had and buying homes they couldn't afford. Which is why the average American has lots of debt on multiple credit cards. Sooner or later you have to pay the piper, and all we seem to be doing now is piling on more debt. Should we just let the economy shrink considering it really shouldn't have been growing like it did to begin with?

I am not understanding either about the whole tax credit thing...for those of us that did get the tax credit from 2008, what makes us different from anyone buying a home in 2009?? Why do we have to pay the money back and those that buy a house this year don't? That does not seem fair to me! Also, about the plan to get those homeowners going towards forclosure out...I can understand those struggling because of job loses, but those that get into it for not spending their money wisely or whathaveyou...that should not get help. The money going towards those that are near foreclosure or have been through it, should go to them because they have lost jobs or because with their current job they are trying hard to pay bills and just cannot make ends meet. Not to those irresponsible for their actions...

The fact is that at the heart of the current financial crisis are the billions of dollars sunk in mortgage loans that, among other things, were "securitized" in novel ways as to make it almost impossible to determine who are the actual owners of the invested money.
If the financial rescue had started injecting liquidity into the market from the consumer side of the equation instead of giving the funds to the very people who fanned this mess, we might have averted the depression.
Consumers are finally scared now.

Is it true that people on social security and disability will get a one time payment of $250, and if so when

Desperate in Kansas!!!

What if we're NOT under water (yet) on our mortgage and have been paying all along, and our annual payments are LESS than 31% of our income but because of a decrease in our income AND unemployment, we now are at risk of not being able to meet our mortgage debt? We were self-employed and couldn't get enough business to stay in business. We have one special needs child in an expensive special school for which we receive NO tuition assistance. Our only income is from an IRA, Keogh, and an investment account (all of which have fallen drastically because of the markets tanking). We also have no health insurance because we couldn't afford it. One illness will cause us to lose our home. From the sound of Obama's speech today in Arizona, there is NO HELP for people like us!

This is not just Obama's plan, but a team of finanical advisors. Unlike our last president, we finally have someone who is going to listen to other advisors and the american people. The Economy has been dropping since last fall, a many comments are pointing fingers and talking about being responsible and life is tough. You said a month full- Life is tough and sometime doesn't matter how responsbile you are. If you have dotted every I and Crossed every T, great.... Live a little bit longer..... And you may need assistance also from your hard earned taxes paid into the system. I am prayerful that the foreclosure plan will have a domino effect, since the Housing Market is critical to the US Economy!

The only ones who will benefit from the stimulus package are the big companies and congress.

"Good Morning Sunshine"

What about individuals who are close to retirement age but are unable to retire as soon as they would have liked because this "mess" has caused their retirement plans (401k) to shrink? We are lower middle class and it appears that there is nothing out there to help us. What can $20/week buy?

We have worked hard all our lives, never been late on any payment, have struggled to raise our family and now we have to foot most of the bill in this "bailout" Just doesn't seem fair.

If Obama really wants to stimulate the economy just give the $787 billion back to the legitimate taxpayers and they will have enough money to spend thereby stimulating the economy.

Simuliating the economy? I heard a wonder idea that would have helped all taxpayers and the economy. Why should they have not taken the stimules monies and divided among the taxpayers --sending them a credit card where they could not pull it off the card and put it in savings BUT would have to spend it on cars, boats........whatever. Starting from the bottom and letting it flow to the top!

I don't see any help for the taxpayers. Tax savings by tax cuts....do what. What if you've loss your job and don't get a weekly check? And I've heard that the tax cut would help a family of 3 about $60.00 a month. Now tell me what is $60.00 a month going to really do for a family of 3......been to the grocery store lately?

I have not found any help that I could get for my two SMALL businesses in Arkansas or myself! In our town, we have already seen businesses closing also. Where do we go for help?

As long as people are pointing fingers, why not point them at house flippers and buyers who felt that the trumped up home values were a "good deal"?

Perhaps things are stabilizing now and home values are reverting ack to their rue prices, not hte prices influenced by greed.

My home was valued at $200.000. last year when it was assessed for property taxes. Now that home valves have dropped can I have the property re-assessed to lower my property taxes?

I do not think it is fair to judge everyone that bought a house and now in trouble of losing it. We bought our house in 2006 for $135,000 and had money in the bank. my husband has had two heart attacks one in 2007 and another in 2008. now the money is gone and I have begged Wachovia to help and they won`t. What do you do if its not your faught???
Dianne
N.C

I was wondering what the Stimulas bill will do for those that are under a recorded land contract. Our contract is up in April 2009, I am having a hard time getting a loan to keep this house. Is there any help for us in this sort of situation? After all, this contract is no different than a contract with a morgage company. Thank you.

Rick in Michigan

I understand helping people when crisis hits, why are we helping people that got themselves in the mess they are in and I think that the american people should be able to vote on these issues since it is our tax money paying for all this.

With all the money we are "lending" the car companies, why not make them give every person who can drive a new car? They are receiving billions of dollars of our tax money the government should arrange it that each driver receives a dollar credit of a certain set amount, say for example $20,000 of which they can use this toward purchase of a new car. That would get the economy up and running and give us something back for our loan to the car companies.

It seems the stimulus plan is for the big corporations, already wealthy, and the ones already living off of government assistance. So how do the middle class benefit? The housing crisis isn't affecting Corporate America or those living in Govt. housing. It is affecting working class Americans. So where is the help for them? Where are the tax breaks for the working class? Where is the assistance or incentives for small businesses? It seems that this Govt. bailout is only helping those who are already dependent on the system. Maybe I'm just missing the point, help me out?

Mortgage with Countrywide. 5 months ahead on mortgage. I called Countrywide to refi my current mtg. and 2nd mortgage of $9400 into one, still keeping me under 80% loan to value. They pulled my credit score which 2 months ago was 721 and told me it is now 625! No change in any thing on the report that would have triggered that kind of drop. Appears credit bureaus are helping the banks be able to deny loans or get higher interest rates. I have have spoken to others who have seen their credit scores mysteriously drop also.

This package seems to be for big business bailout here's a bailout suggestion give the people the money to pay off thier mortgages to help the big business. We all made bad choices but we listened to the banks who said we can have that big house at a rate of 125% of it's value. With water bills going up 66% and energy bills rising without raise at our jobs this package will only pay off one months cost of bills and no money left over to stimulate anything eccept creditors.

The agents that reviewed the applications for home loans should loose their jobs. They knew what these families income were. What sort of compensation did they receive for making a home loan that turned bad?

Our country was founded on free enterprize system. With the so called stimulus our "free enterprize" well turn all of that into a state run economy. It is just the beginning of what is to come. It has nothing to do with who is President because it is all being formed by the Congress and Senate. In a free enterprize system you business or company either bares fruit and spreads or dies on the vine. It is what has made this country so great. Let those companys that will go bust fail. It is like putting a brain dead person on life support system and keeping them alive just for the sake of keeping them alive and pouring good money after bad.

iam a 52 yr. old women on soc.sec.disability will we get a check on this stimlus thank you. terrie

The stimulous plan should of had a "build the wall" plan in it. Stopping the illegal immigration would cut welfare and medical costs astronomically! It is time to build the wall while we are spending all of this money. I am sure Americans would be happy to do the work.

The idea of helping the home owners out that are in risk of foreclosure is insaine. Those people that bought homes when they could get the property with low or even no interest knew that the day would come when the payments would go up. But they did nothing to prepair for that day. Wheather it was spectulation or just trying to move up to a home owner of a home that they knew they could never afford. The banks and lien holder had to know also that this day would come. So it all comes down to greed. No matter the outcome is was greed that put people in that situation. And who gets hurt by this system? The tax payer of this country. This no longer a capital system, it is becoming a socielest, government run country.

hey .just wondering if you have no joband no unemoplying coming in,what happens with we the people who are getting behind on childsupport if we go to jail will the president cut us a bail out check or will he leave us in jail either way we cant pay...waiting for feedback thanks rocky

I find the "stimulus" package very short sighted.

We pushed our national debt to $12 Trillion not including future obligations such as social security which pushes it over $60 Trillion.

1) How are we going to pay for this?

2) How does the government plan to make infrastructure jobs sustainable over the long haul?

We have dug a hugh hole with no plan on how to get out of it.

I herd on your show that people that are on unemployment will be extended until the end of 2009.
I'v looked all over the internet to check to see if this is really true, but can't find it anywhere.
Where did you find this information?
Is it really true?
Does it cover the people that are on a first draw only, or does it cover people that are on an extension?
Thank you

The stimulus package well not help those of us have already lost everything. I lost my home and all furnishings when I filed bankruptcy last Sept. I had bought a home in Ohio in 1997 and thought I was in great shape. I had retired from the USMC in 1990 after serving over twenty years and had gone to work for the Department of Ohio Corrections. My wife worked for the local hospital in skilled nursing and we thought we had it made.

I was hired by ODR&C because I was retired military person with disabilities and there-fore the VA would pay for part of my training. One of the disabilities I was hired with was PTSD. Things were great until 2000 when I had a problem that was caused by the medications was taking. After the problems were taken care of the state of Ohio said that because I had problems with stress I had to see their Mential Health doctors. The doctor stated that I had PTSD and could not work in the prison inviroment so the state gave me the boot.

It took six moths of jumping through all of the hoops to get a medical retirement from the state and during that time I recieved no pay and fell behind in all of my bills.

We spent eight years of trying to get caught up but it was impossible. Because of the late payment charges and not making payments on the credit cards while I went without income the charges put the credit card over the limit so then we not only had a lot of interest but also over charges. The amounts got totally out of had. Our bank accounts were granished and from there things got really bad.

It ended up we filed bankruptcy in September of 2008 and it was finalized in January 2009. We now live in a camper trailer and are starting life over again in our sixties. As they say, "you bring nothing into this world and can take nothing with you when you leave." But I never though they meant it that way.

I feel that we are the lucky ones because we still have our health and each other. But we are just two out thousands that have fell off the charts and are not counted in all they numbers that the government throws at the media.

Blog from Diana Bowler said there are double standards well in my opinion since Obama took office his all of his administration so far has only had double standards.

Obama said he would not sign a stimulas bill if it had any so called pork in it , is there not pork in the plan.

Obama said that every one will be prosecuted for any wrong doing , how come choice for the secretary of the treasurey received his appointment with no problem even after he failed to pay income taxes even though two of his choices for the secretary of commerce had withdraw there names for the appointment.
Must be the new secretary of the treasury is above the law.

The senate ripped into the auto makes when they all went down to washington in there private jets to explain why they needed billions of dollars in order to avoid failure. Then Obama sends a plane to pick up a senator to vote on the stimulus plan just so he was assured that his vote was counted. ( must have been scared the bill might not have passed with out his vote )

What about the wasted money we have already had to deal with with the trips on air force one so far, Obama flies to colorado to sign the stimulus bill flies back to washington, then flies to chicago on valentines day to take mrs. Obama to dinner, then flies back to washington, now he takes the marine one helicopter to albany new york, and then he flies to canada for his first out of country visit ( which is necessary ) but them point is with all Obama has to deal with on the economy yoy would think that ther would be better planning so all of his travels are coordinated to save money. for instance Obama could have flown to colorado on friday to sign the stimulus bill then to chicago on saturday to have dinner and from chicago to canada. ( if his staff can coordinate a comulated tour for instance going to europe way can't they do it for trips within the country ).

In my opinion there is no fairness in all of the bame being blamed totally on the Bush administration , one Obama and the democratic party's campaign issues was we can't have four more years of the same Bush policy's we had for the last eight years , which might have been right except there was a part of one slogan that said change which we needed but why did the democratic party push so hard in the 2006 elections for control of the house and senate which they got that control they wanted and for the last two years of Bush the democratic party did nothing in my opinion to change or stop Bush, so Bush and the republican party had control for only six years.

So now what do we really have for control of the officeof the president for the years from 2000 – 2012 , Bush full time president from 2000 – 2002 and two years to get reelected 2002 – 2004 and from 2002 – 2008 full time with no control over the house or senate, now Obama 2008 – 2012 control of the house and senate for his four year term and the democratic party in control from 2006 – 2012 , and Obama might only be full time for 2008 – 2010 and the campaign to get reelected from 2010 – 2012.

P.S. Obama said that when he was elected he inherited a trillion dollars of debt from the last stimulus bill passed , now let;s think about this was it not the democratic party that passed that bill ?

NOT ANOTHER DIMES FOR BANKS, they like the automakers need to show the government what they are doing with the money. They have it and not lending, but there is no one that will qualify with credit scores now, so that is how they are cheating the goverment and the people paying for their windfall

To all who said $100,000 to everyone would be cheaper than the stimulis package,
Even if it were possible to do so, the Dems would never want that. It would mean financial freedom. Working hard and creating your own wealth sets you free. They want you to be beholden to them, the government.
This stimulis and all others like it will need to be paid back. How will it happen? Higher taxes soon. The only way to a healthy economy is tax cuts, BALANCED BUDGET! Everone has a family budget, not that you can't borrow but you can't borrow everything you spend. Why is it we feel thew government can? 1982 saw higher unemployment than now, 8% inflation and huge debt. We recovered by tax cuts and a balance budget. We are going in the opposite direction. The depression in the 30's was solved by WWII economy, not by any spending FDR did.

LOU, JUST WHAT DID YOU THINK WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, so many years of republicans running the government and look where we are today, give the man a chance and pray that it will work. It makes me sick that people think that it will happen over night. IT WON'T but if a republican was heading the white house again, we would still be where we are today. be honest, PRESIDENT OBAMA is trying and it will be hard on us ALL.

The stimulus will not help everyone, but I am a republican and voted for change because of the crap they put us through all these years, CHANCE FOR CHANGE is better then nothing.

Banks getting rich as usual, CEO's getting richer as usual and the poor get poorer, BUT at least I see a man trying to make change.

If none of these southeren Republicans politicians due not want any part of the stimulus package then the next time there is a hurricane or tornadoe and communities are wiped out, quit taking my money to bail them out. If they want to live in a hurricane zone or tornadoe zone let the state or let the people their pay for their own insurance. Why should fema have to come in again and again. Is that not government money

So let me get this straight. The automobile manufactures have to deliver a plan to delite jobs to save dollars so they can get a STIMULUS to save more jobs. Did I miss something?

I can barely watch the news anymore. Are you kidding me? Give the banks billions so that they can give their top guys millions in bonuses? Give the people that could not afford the houses that they bought in the first place breaks and lower their payments so now they can? Give those on welfare an extra $60 plus a month so they can stand in front of me in line at the grocery store after staying at home all day buying all their premade pancakes, mashed potatoes, steaks and boxed dinners while after a 40 hour week of work I stand in line behind them buying the meat, the 10 pound bag of potatoes and everything else that was on sale that week so that I can go home and make my family a home cooked meal that I might not be able to eat until 6:00 and give me $30 a month extra in my check? What is wrong here? I buy the house that I can most definately afford and make my monthly payment on time every month and will I get my interest rate and monthly payment reduced? NO! Do I get a bonus at work after laying off thousands of other employees? NO!!! If the government wants to bail someone out and stimulate the economy, maybe try giving each working class family who files their taxes a $70,000 and we will definately stimulate the economy! I'm thinking of moving from my house and buying the beautiful home of my dreams that I cannot afford...that way, I'll get bailed out and be able to stay there! What was I thinking buying a house I can afford? I'll never get rewarded!!!

Are people really going to see the stimulus payment? I mean come on, $15 a week is nothing. That won't even pay for a gallon of gas. How is it going to help the economy by giving people $15 a week? I did not care too much for Bush, but at least he gave everybody money that filed taxes. I would also like to know if that money will be added on before or after taxes? If they tax that $15, what are you really getting? Could we possibly be getting played by the government?????????????????????

Jennifer,

I just called my mortgage company yesterday, 2/19, and they told me the only way they will help me is to get behind in payments. I thought after the plan was signed that this wasn't going to be the case????? Thanks Countrywide, NOT!

Look a the bright side , only one major problem left!
The default credit swap market. Bank ceo issued sub-prime loan because they thought RISK was reduced by purchasing a default credit-swap insurance policy. Well when more than one company defaulted on loans based on mortgages , the insurance companies dont have enough money to pay all the claims.
3 ways to solve problem:
#1 nationalize the banks : favored by Alan Greenspan
#2 make banks write losses down over time : Japan did this in there real estate boom
#3 FDIC intervention : this is favored by Simon Johnson , The chief economist at the IMF and professor of econ. at MIT.
None of the 3 would cause the end of the world! It will pick up after WE solve one last problem! thank you.

We should all Americans,I mean us legal ones,should have received a stimulus check for more than Obama promised.I guess when we all receive are tax refund check we don't spend that eitherLike I thought ,he is nothing but a liar and a chicago crook,out for his rich c.e.o buddies and wallst.friends .I have to get my eyes examed,if I don,t I might become blind,My unemployment ran out,I guess I have to start to making tin cups while I can still see'" . linda lou

well what the big shots must see is that if no one is workinng on one is spending money. so why are we giveing all the money to banks that give ceo money that they did not eanr. they spend 450 mellion on butting a name on a building. the are banks want more money to do what take more peoples home . if you would take $100,000 and give it to us tax payers that make under $100,000 a yaer people could pay on there homes the bank still get all the money but the little people
could send money heat there home .the banks, and the big 3 well not pay all that money back. but if people can spend money then we all can make it.. bank and the big 3 can keep running . this what we need to do to get the us up and running strorng.

So where is my stimulus money?
I'm unemployed, i live in Michigan, lost my job over 2 years ago and have not been able to find anything.
i'm living off my savings and since I'm old enough I have been making withdrawls from my 401k.
i need help! wheres my stimulus money??? how do i get my share of this stimulus plan??

301,621,157 Population 2007 Census

Percentage of Population 18 years or younger 24.5%

Population over 18 227,723,973

790 Billion dollar bail out divided by the population over 18 years old.

This equals 3469.11 per person. How will this small amount help stimulate the economy? I don’t see how anything in the near future will help our situation. We need to find were the money went and repossess the money. We need to put people in Jail that created this atrocity, those in the financial community and those politicians that allowed or supported them in their thievery.

Well, once again the powers tht be show they care NOTHING about the senior citzens if this country.It's OK to be on welfare, milking the working pubic of evry dime they can, it's OK if you have children for tax credits, but if you are 62+ but not 65 retired you get ZIP. A big 250.00 sometime in May 09 .... we struggled all our lives to have what we have right now and are expected to use our dwindling 401k's(which by the way if you havent noticed is WAY down) to live until 65 when medicare kicks in. What a crock ... we have too many assets to get any type of assistance but not enough to pay our bills, or for adquate food.....
Thank goodness we like tuna fish .. most cat food will do.
Had the powers that be gave every person over 21 in the USA $1,000,000.00- taxed it, the American public would have been able to bring their mortgages utd, pay off high credit debt, maybe buy a new home, new car, spending would have increased and so would have manufacturing of goods.. simplestic maybe but at least we would ALL have benefit from the bail outs. Instead they give money to Auto Industry and we still can not afford the new car, bail out banks that now are hording funds and raising interest rates on credit cards. Good customers are now expected to go from 9.9% to 16.9% for no apparent reason. And they wonder why the American public is really really tired of " being our brother's keeper"? It just seems to be never ending give give give and get nothing in return not even a thank you.
We paid our mortgage on time, we paid our credit cards on time, never late with any bill ever and still we are the ones who struggle to stay afloat and btw my husb lost his job over 2 yrs ago. while those irresponsible people who didnt even their hardest try will get all the help they need.... how sad.

No one ever seems to answer this question.....where do the powers-that-be obtain the money to give bailouts and sign stimulus bills? Are we just printing it, or are we borrowing from other countries? Those massive amounts of money cannot be just coming from increased tax revenues. And don't we already owe trillions of dollars to other countries? What if these countries call in their loans? I just don't get it. It seems like we ought to stop the insanity cycle and let the chips fall where they may. I may very well be one of the ones to lose a job or lose everything I have, but aren't we Americans? We always bounce back sooner or later. Let's see how tough we really are.

Why don't we start talking positive about things for a change? All we hear is the stimulus package isn't going to work. Why don't we give it a chance to work instead of condemning it right off? Remember over 90% of the American people that own homes have been paying their mortgages on time as well as over 90% of the American people are working? I also think companies took advantage of the times and did lay-offs when they didn't necessarily have to because they could blame it on the economic times. There is a great article in Newsweek everyone should read about how we should be looking at this recession. Maybe it's time we all start being responsible ourselves and realizing the government can't fix everything and we have to be responsible ourselves. Talk to people who lived in the Depression and see how much this is NOT the Depression. Some optimism would be nice to hear for a change.

Hi Jennifer,

The wife and I both watch the show every morning and enjoy it. My concern is what this plan does for fiscally responsible people like us. I did not buy a $600,000 home with no money down, I actually put 20% down on a home I could afford and we even send extra to our mortgage. I am also a small business owner and I see our taxes going up and my tax dollars going to everyone but me. How does this package help people who did it correctly? Why is the government rewarding and protecting people who made poor choices and hurting the ones who made responsible decisions? I would love to see some analysis on what responsible citizens are going to get out of this plan.

Thanks,

-Navin

Hi ,

I have a question about taking my 401k out for the purchase of my first home on a hardship.
My HR department & fund company is telling me i must pay taxes & peneltys coming up to 40% of my investment, is this true ?
Also i have heard the talk about a tax credit this year for the purchase of your first home $7500, but i have also heard it would only allow you 10% of the purchase price as a credit?
Any information would be greatly appriciated , Thank you !

Barret

Jennifer,

Your answer to why we did not get a check is a laugh, ( Behavioral economists), This reminds me of a show called "Back to School" with Rodney Dangerfield.

I believe that the phrase "SUPPLY and DEMAND" is something that those in Goverment don't understand and neither do those so called Behavioral economists.

Hearing and talking about what the goverment should do I was surprised that most people believe that the goverment should of gave the money to the people it would of been a lot cheaper

If they gave us lets say 1 Million per family what would we do with it.

Sure Pay off Bills, (Banks get money back and grow Stronger)

Buy or Remodel a house ( Houseing Market takes off along with electric, Plumbing, ect)

Buy a new car (Car industry improves)

Buy new toys ie electronics, 4 wheelers, RV, ect

And sure put some away

We regular people call this Supply and Demand, the people start buying companys start hiring.

But with the way the so called Stimulas that passed the so called extra money in my pay check will go to rate increases such as Electric, Natural Gas, Insurances, Phone ect, that extra money is not enough and its not going to help anyone.

This so called Stimulas plan is to reward those who failed, but it don't help anyone that is still above water with a life jacket on that is leaking.

If you where to put the stimulas plan to a national vote with their plan that the 500 some people that run this country came up with, and the peoples plan. I guess the people would win.

Could you give me one good reason why the peoples plan would not work considering that we are not the ones that voted for the orginal plan.? and something besides Behavioral economists

Mortgage rates are coming down, but the companies are doubling and tripling their closing fee costs. My wife became disabled since we financed our mortgage and a lower rate would help a lot because we lost her income. But they want $7,000 and up to refinance and we have excellent credit. How is that supposed to help?

How many illegals will be put to work with this stimulus package?Just thought i would throw this out to all the viewers to see what the response would be .I think about 1 in 7 or so."THANKS"'DOUG""'

I am not a political scholar and I do not presume to know a lot about the details of the stimulus package. However, I am educated, and know a lot about conflict management and that is what our government needs. Every one of them need a four week coarse in conflict management and also a class or two on how to support and believe in one another. I am utterly frustrated at the nay sayers and the wolf criers. What we need is positive and supportive attitudes. People are genuinely concerned for themselves and their families and all we hear from Capitol Hill is fussing and fighting. My God, these are educated people who have been elected (unfortunately) to manage our society and all they can do is ridicule, accuse, and disrespect one another. We must be an embarrassament to the world.

HELP! 100s of Thousands of UNemployed ABANDONED by Stimulus Plan's COBRA subsidy provision.
I am a New Yorker, UNemployed since July 2008, and am devastated to realize that I am left out of receiving assistance from COBRA subsidy provision of Stimulus Plan, because Unemployed persons qualify only if they lost their job AFTER September 2008. It's incomprehensible to think that 100s of thousands of the Unemployed who are in the worst circumstances, still Unemployed since BEFORE September, will receive NO COBRA relief, while someone who lost their job yesterday will receive the full benefit.

Obviously no legislator gave any thought at all to the reality that someone could still be Unemployed since BEFORE Sept. 08 – Yet here in New York, the job situation is so bad that unemployment benefits have been extended three times. As a single person I have more than struggled since July to pay a staggering $606 monthly COBRA premium – which is close to 40% of my unemployment benefits Now with the COBRA subsidy, a person who lost their job yesterday and who might have my same health policy will need to pay only 35% of the premium which would amount to $212, compared to my having to continuing paying a whopping $606, as I have since July!

I have done my best to contact legislators, policy advisors, news commentators, as well as President Obama, but have been unsuccessful in having my 'voice' heard. I HUMBLY PLEAD to CNN and to fellow citizens reading these comments: Do anything in your power to get the word out to the public and legislators to remedy this exclusion, and provide some equitable COBRA subsidy to those who have been Unemployed since BEFORE September ‘08. Don't be guided by arbitrary dates – be guided by fairness. As it stands now it is an exclusionary benefit, rather than one of inclusion. ALL the Unemployed are suffering from the economic downturn.

Enduring a very difficult time, I will try to keep faith and remain 'HOPEful' that someone will recognize the facts I have presented, and acknowledge my determination with a promise to help. Someone has to be reading this who cares!

Would appreciate any unemployed person in same position to post a comment – so I ‘ll know I am not alone. Thanks for everyone’s attention.

Hey Robin, what about people in limbo with Disability? They are not counted in any of the news reports. Also If Governors don't want the money, Michigan will take it. I have been in limbo with SSA for almost five years and have not worked in 2-1/2 years due to disablities and not because I don't want to work. Where is my help, so much for SSA to reduce it's cases right. thank you and say Hi to the crew.

If we're going to get an extra $15 on our paycheck, isn't that $15 we're going to be short on this years taxes? Won't I have to ask my employer to save out an extra $15 to cover the tax. The % of tax I have to pay is not changing is it?

Cutting the taxes taken from peoples pay checks is great and all, but what stimulus is there for people like me. I am now unemployed, I don't qualify for unemployment, I cannot apply for social services aid without giving the government a lien on my house, I can't get a loan on my house because I don't have a job to pay for the loan, and I can go on...

Personally, I don't think the stimulus package should be just government intervention. (i.e) U.S. Airways offering beverage service again may seem small, but it helps to create a positive economical vibe. These big companies need to revert to the way the policies that were so successful in the late 90's. I personally think that these small things that pop up are very important in reviving our economy. Having companies offer small perks will help kick start the stimulus plan by not only throwing money on the problem, but showing that things are getting better. We as Americans need to know that the situation is getting better. I feel that if we all work together as a country we will begin to see progress this year.

Matt
Springfield, Missouri

WELL it won't help people that already have homes, although I believe if the government really wants to help, rather giving it to the banks, they should give each HOMEOWNER, $50,000 and see what happens, the only way they would get the money is show that it was to catch up on their loans. HUM just wonder how that would work and get the money in the economy. SIGNATURE REQUIRED....See how many honest people there really are if given the chance.

Clark Howard has "the word" right – Gluttony.
How dare these Republican Governors deny the needy people of their states just so that they can position themselves for a future power grab, especially when it has been the gluttony of the Republican Party and their friends during the Bush administration that has dominantly created this mess in the first place (Halliburtin?! etc.). I have always believed in a reasonable profit, but the overt greed of these 425% profit margin hawks should be PUNISHED, and hardworking Americans should NOT have to pay the price for their greed and their "friends" desire for power.

What kind of stimulus money will i receive if I am self employed?

I've been trying to find out just how much our illustrious Govenor Sanford will be taking of the Stimulus. I've only heard about a $5M to cover Unemployment Benefits for February. What will SC do for March? The sad thing is Gov. Sanford has ok'd a re-construction of the Charleston Harbor, which will be a benefit for sure, but it will also be a benefit for his 3500 acre plantation in the area. The word 'impeach' comes up when I search Gov. Sanford. Can you give me an idea of what SC will be acceptng?

Jennifer help me out!

I understand that by paying the money out slower, via less payroll taxes, will help the government, but the question I have is, "Will the tax schedule be changed next year or will we be paying more when we fill out our 2009 1040s?"

Ok, I must addmitt I have been very skeptical about this whole stimulus thing, but I am putting this stimulus plan to the test. We will see what happens and then I will soon say if this is annother scam, or legit. I am staying hopefull now and will be keeping you all updated.

Glad to see comments about self-employed and stimulus package. This is a part of the working world that is being devastated by the economy with no help showing. We own a very small carpentry subcontracting business. Had to lay off the workers last year when new housing starts tanked in our area. Husband has had little work for months, can't collect unemployment like others can and I am retired and can't find part time work to help out. I retired 10 years ago after working 30 yrs. and thought I could enjoy retirement. My pension lump sum IRA that was supposd to last 25-30 years that I have been drawing from got destroyed thanks to the stock market. Started getting SS last fall and can only earn a certain amount IF I could find a job. Next thing will be foreclosure. Budgeting like crazy and not spending on anything except food/utilities/necessities but still can't make ends meet. Seems this sector is getting no help with stimulus package...we are the FORGOTTEN segment.

Since we will be receiving extra money in our paycheck due to reduced taxes as part of the stimulus package, what happens at the end of the year when we have file federal taxes.

Will we end paying taxes back to the government because not enough taxes were taken of the paycheck due to the reduced tax stimulus?

In the short run, it sounds like a good idea to reduce taxes, but in the long run, will this end up hurting the taxpayer at tax time.

Seems like it doesnt matter that taxes are reduced now. We will end up paying taxes back to the government for this money. I do not see where this extra money coming back to us now is tax deductible.

Seems like this is more of a loan than a tax break or stimulus.

Being an unemployed residential carpenter, it's obvious to me that this stimulus package is nothing but a joke. How is this "15 extra dollars in your paycheck for working people" help me (or the economy for that matter) if I'm unemployed?
This "spontanious spending spree" that the dems have rammed down our throats only stimulates their socilaistic agenda.

How can the gov. justify giving $5,000,000 to Gaza ? It is nice to help
others but we need to take care of home. Some of the crisis we
are in is due to international handouts we have made in the past. We
give money to other countries while our citizens need healthcare, jobs,
homes and food. WWII helped pull us out of the depression. The war
in Iraq and Afghanistan has caused more financial problems. What about when the National Guard and Reserve troops come home to
regain the jobs that are promised to be waiting for them and they are not. Or the person who is filling their job is laid off. We'll have even
worse unemployment. Don't get me wrong as a veteran I want our troops out of both wars as soon as possible. Then there is the huge increase the Veteran's Administration is going to have to handle especially the medical system. They can barely handle the numbers they have now. I believe it is a slap in the face of every American for the stimulus plan to smile and hand us an extra $13 a week and wish it was more while giving millions and billions of dollars in aid overseas !

Bank bailout vs. Taxpayer bailout, Instead of giving banks billions to help them out of their situation, take that money and give to the middle-class and unemployed so they can pay their bills which in turn will help the banks, the economy, and everything else down the line. Stop importing goods which were made and can be made in the U.S.A. . Give companies a tax break to bring their busnessies back into the states and do not allow imports of goods maufactured overseas by U.S. based companies. This will get the economy started again.

someone please explain how disney can lay-off employees while still making huge profits....sure, they state they have lost 32% of their profits. but what about the other 68%? isn't a profit, a profit? any business that posts 68% profit is banking tons of money. can they be so greedy that they can expect us to believe they are hurting? right now at this moment, disney is still paying for NEW construction at the disney world location. is building new better than keeping loyal employees until their big profits come back?

CNN help the plan to recovery. I would like to challenge the media of America to assist in re-establishing confidence in our economic system. Once a day Robin Meade salutes the troops, a positive and deserved recognition. Couldn't you do a similar 30 second spot offering a positive report on something that is relative to the economy. It might be a new business that has sprung up, the banker who shared his buyout bonus with his employees, a family who has found innovative ways to survive layoffs. You get the idea. The bottom line is that media always has HOURS in the day to report the negatives. Yet, you have a responsibility to America and the world to LOOK FOR and REPORT the good things that people do as well as their positive responses to our critical situation. Are you brave enough to accept the challenge?

Hi Jennifer,

I had a question about the stimulus package! You say that money is suppost to be added to paychecks, to help everyone. But, how will the people that aren't working and aren't drawing unemployment going to get their cutts? I was just wondering about that. thanks Jennifer

To: Jennifer Westhoven

Dear Jennifer:

What if...just what if I really have a plan that will work?

My name is Edward Goldfarb. I am a RE/MAX Realtor in S. Florida. A little background for credibility: I am a former Navy fighter pilot, corporate director of advertising and sales promotion, I have been in the same real estate office in the S. Florida market for 17 years, 1475 career sales (over $250 million) and 60 sales 2009 year-to-date, RE/MAX Lifetime Achievement, RE/MAX Hall of Fame, I also hold the CDPE (Certified Distressed Property Expert) Designation, I hope you will agree my track record qualifies me as an expert http://www.IwantAgreatRealtor.com.

I've been fighting the real estate wars from the fox holes, on the battle line, for over a year. I have been combat wounded and have the scares and medals to prove it. I've been working dozens of contracts including REOs and Short Sales over the last year. In this time, I have seen things go from very bad to seriously worse. Insanity, poor judgement, absurdity, incompetence and down-right stupidity is the rule rather than the exception. Every Realtor I've spoken with who has worked REOs and Short Sales have been stone-walled, mislead and abused by the loss mitigation departments with the worst offenders being JPMChase, Countrywide and Bank of America. Most Realtors and buyers no longer want to look at Short Sales listings and REOs a close behind.

Bottom line, I know a way to turn the housing market around in less than 90 days, for a cost of under $160 million, but I am not powerful enough to be heard and I do not have your connections and credibility.

On the slim chance, that I am right and just may have the solution isn't worth a few minutes of your "personal" time to get our real estate market back on track?

Warm regards,

Edward Goldarb, CDPE
Certified Distressed Property Expert
RE/MAX PowerPro Realty
954-605-8427

Is it true that AIG insures the pension trust fund of Congress? Seems like a good reason for the government to insist on giving them bailout money!!!!!! Hmmmmmmm?

I would not mind higher taxes if I knew it was going to those who really need it rather than those who have learned to take advantage of the system.

What about welfare and those who seek to live off of it, rather than use it as a temporary assistance tool? Obama needs to clean this mess up as well. We can no longer afford the abuses and waste of the present welfare system.

I am qurious as to why illegal aliens are about recieve Social Security benefits, thanks to congress,while so many tax paying CITIZENS are becoming homeless. Is this really stimulating our economy.

AIG needs more money like i need a hole in the head! drain the well!

i am a current homeowner not a 1st time homeowner. i have always been current on my mortgage payment. i have filed chapter7 in the last 6 months how will stimulus help me and can i still get a better mortgage rate. ihave been in my new home for 3 years.

i am acurrent homeowner for 3 years i have always been currenrt on my mortgage is it true that there is a part in the stimulus plan for homeowners who owe more than 80percent that they will qualify for 1000dollars a year for 5 years

Hello Jen,I live in North Dakota. I have been on work comp for two years"hand injury". will i qualify for a stimulus ck

I say instead of giving all these failing companies BILLIONS of dollars give each and every tax paying AMERICAN Citizen that money. This would stimulate the economy, we could pay our bills off, catch up on our house payments buy a new car and then use our paychecks to purchase things we need....If we took ALL the money given to these companies and divied it up between the american tax paying people I wonder How much it would give each of us????

I don't understand why they keep bailing out these big companys.If the working people of this country can not afford to buy a car or house or insurance then these companys are still going to lose money and cost the tax payers money for more bailouts.Why don't they bailout the working man?Give the money to the taxpayer and let them use it the way they see fit with an understanding it has to be spent not saved.For instance you give a mortage company 5 million dollars to lower house payments if these people lose their job they can't pay it no matter how cheap it is.If gas was a dollar a gallon and you don't have a job it may as well be 50 dollars a gallon.But we are just the backbone of this country and don't have any say I guess we don't matter as long as the suits of this country don't do without.

i'm not sure if i'm in the right blog but here it is.as of today i paid 18.00 for abag of tobacco.starting april 1st i'll have to pay almost 40.00.if the government didn't bailoput business's, the public takes the fall.]the working person always gets the raw end.maybe government overall is requiered.eliminate the problem:congress,big money,maybe a working person,if my job was still in america:i could afford living here.i hear and respond to all news,and our government is fat-obese-drunk-doped,i guess if i moved overseas,i'd probally be a working person;;;;;not in this country,where i wasa born.

I hear all these plans to invest in renewable energy. Why don't we do what the rest of the world has already done....convert to metric. Converting all the road signs from miles per hour to kilometers per hour will create plenty of jobs. Offer a companies money to hire more people so that the conversion could be done in the workforce. Having the metric system in place will put SUA on the global scale, and could be a preventative for making errors, not to mention the simplicity of converting. Can you tell me right of the top of your head how many inches there are in 1.2 miles, vs how many centimeters in 1.2 kilometers?

If you have bills that have been paid off and paid up to date and the major bills (such as mortgage, car note, school loans, etc.) has been set up of electronic debt. How long would it take to build your low credit score up?

Hi I am a small bussiness owner in the auto industry and I am trying to support my new President, but I am very concerned about the heath care costs. Right now I am getting a 12 percent increase which is going to take up almost all my profit margin .We have given billions to banks to start the lending but I can tell you there has been a real pull back each day instead of the lending that is supposed to take place. Now even if bussiness picks up and money starts to move again how does a bussiness hire new employee and give benifits when the cost keeps going up which prohibits bussiness to grow? Where is the logic? Money needs to move and when it stops we all go down like quick sand. The new question at my office this week is can I finance a car on unemployment? Well this is really something to look at .I know that fixing everyting is not possible there are two many areas that need attention at once but I would like to see the banks start to lend in the auto industry after all they recieved billions of dollars to do just that so wheres the lending? Show me the money. Lets see at least one area at a time clear up StART with all the money in the auto industry we pay advertising companys drivers mechanics poters tire companys salespeople accountants etcc We have customers we just get bank approvals so as I said after billions of dollars Show me the money;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

The only reasons congress perferred NOT to had the money out to TAX PAYERS is that they would not be able to give away money to their friends and campaign contributors. If the money was given to the tax payers a lot more of it would be spend on helping the economy. What will an average of $13.00 reduced taxes in a person's pay check do???????? I know if I got a large lump sum check I would build a new house, new furnishings, two new vehicles and a lot more. This would stimulate the economy quicker and better!!!!!!!!!!!!! If congress wanted to do some good why don't they stop that automatic pay raise for themselves every year??????????

saw spot on your show about canceling sports in high schools. I learned from experince that it helped my child with add tremendously. well he was in sports he did great in school when he was to old 18 they would not let him play he was not focused. sports is a great motivater you should not cancel any programs.

My husband and I refinanced our home in order to get a second mortgage. Little did we know (and we were never made aware of the fine print) our interest reached 14% on the second mortage. We never got behind, but we reached a point where we could not pay it any longer. We were forced to cash in our 401K to be able to refinance our home, pay off the difference of what our home is worth and what we owe with both mortgages, and combine 2nd mortgage with 1st mortgage. Is there anything in the new stimulus package that would help us with the penalities that we are going to have to pay (since we did use the money only on our home, so we could keep it). We did not have a choice. It was either cash it in or lose our home.

Want to save the economy and the enviroment?

Legalize it!!!

If our leaders would legalize HEMP, it would go a long way on addressing the issues at hand.
More jobs across the board.
Farming and the production of multiple goods that this country needs which includes:
Clothing,gases, oxygen for the enviroment and the list goes on and on.
I am not talking about people getting high, but if I was what do you care. People get high on alcohol all the time which brings in a sea of money from people getting busted from consuming a legal substance but not following the rules while doing so. Do some research, HEMP would save us from the state that we are in.
Prove me wrong.
I used to smoke pot and drink alcohol and my wife has never done either. We have seen the affects of both and the problems that occur from drinking far outweigh the problems that occur from smoking pot.
Do not forget that all the smuggling would not exist except with the drugs that have been chemically altered by man.
I could go on and on. Like I said, PROVE ME WRONG!!!
Remember that HEMP is not the same as MARIJUANA. You do not smoke Hemp to get high. Hemp does not get you high. PROVE ME WRONG!!! PLEASE, I would love to hear you prove to me where I am misinformed.

I hear that the stimulas plan will not help pay for our medicare suppliment and that we have to get a plan from another company rather than Unicare or Advantage Freedom . Is this true and if so why don't the goverment worry a little about the retirees also. It is going to be a real crunch on a lot of people that won't have insurance and guess who will pay for that ???

Thanks ,
Alice,

Hi again Robin,

It seems that the President is signing bills that spend more money (the taxpayer's money) every day. I am not surprised that banks are keeping a tight leash on lending and investors are wary to put money into businesses that may at some point in the future be nationalized or restructured.

The poor woman immediately ahead of me on this blog (Alice) is worried about whether the stimulus will help her pay for het Medicare supplement – she should probably be more concerned that the goverment may run out of money to continue to fund Medicare as we know it.

At the rate the President is spending money this could be a greater concern.

Thanks for reading.

Jim

What about all the people without a job right now? How is the stimulus plan suppose to help them? They do not recieve a regular pay-check. They recieve un-employment!

I think our stimulus money could be better spent by giving the business in the United States tax breaks and incentives to bring all of the jobs outsourced to other countries back home. If we employ all of our unemployed with these jobs, the stimulus to the economy would fix it. Over the last decade, citizens of the US have become picky about what they would or would not do for employment, I do not think we have that problem now. This has been a rude awakening for our country. We have created this problem by outsourcing instead of keeping our jobs here. We have guidelines to protect consumers health from irresponsible manufacturers overseas!

GUESS WHAT!!!! I got so excited sbout a stimulus pkg viea-e-mail. What an idiot I am, I thought the average person could apply for a personal stimulus loan, (like me) to buy an allready established business, but later found out on my local radio warning people about scams online. BE CAREFUL TO EVERYONE WHO READS THIS LETTER! People are desperate, and will do almost annything to get some money....even create a stimulus scam online to get your credit card numbers! So I hope what I applied for is legit, but I think I just got swindled! Im gonna have to shut down my credit cards and keep a close eye on my personal finances.

Jennifer, I see now that the Government is going to back the warranties on automobiles from america that are in the bail out program. What about those of us who trusted in them in 2008 bought a Chrysler vehicle with a lifetime power train warranty are we just out in the cold if Chrysler goes under? That is the primary reason we bought the truck in the first place, sounds like we should go trade it in on a new one with Uncle Sam to back us if anything goes wrong.

My husband works and collects social security disability. How does the stimulus package work in this case.

We have been trying to get refinanced with wachovia which is part of wells fargo we have been told that we don't have enough income to refinance at the rate of 5% we are currently paying 6.65%. We are not behind in our mortgage and do not fall into the distressed homeowner catagory. We think this is a travisty of the bailout program designed to ease the mortgage crisis as a homeowner I could be saving $400 amonth to put into the economy by buying other goods and services like home improvement. There needs to be a investigation by the government into these lending practices by the banks who have accepted TARP money. Our current mortgage is with wachovia.

hi,
been reading all these comments but haven't seen any question
about people who do not have a job, can't collect unemployment for
i quit my job after 7 years for to much stress making me sick. went to
unemployment and appeal process and was told can't collect for job
loss wasn"t do to employer, well who else was stressing me out with
overload of work.???? my husband was laid off after 15 yrs and he can collect plus his ss ck for he is over 70 and partly disabled. how
do i get any part of this stimulus if i only get temp job for only 6 wks
and now i don't have a job again. one job since june of 08.

In 2007, I borrowed $128,000 through a home equity loan @6.875. I had no previous mortgage. Is there a way to get my percentage rate reduced through the Stimulus Package. I am a retiree, and this $1149.44 monthly note is hurting badly – to the point I can hardly pay my other creditors. Until this previous year, I had what was considered a good FICA score. In the past year, my score has been reduced tremendously because I've been late paying other bills. Thank you for your assistance.

so i bought a home, and i havent owned 1 for 5 years, i meet the income , ive been waiting over 12 weeks, ive called the irs they said they were overwhelmed with requests, they were very pleasnt to me but ,i bought this home knowing it needed improvements, i put down more because i thought the 8000 dollar check would take 8 wks, HR block told me it could be in as little as 6 wks, i thought this stimulus was a great plan because it put money directly into the hands of americans, not aig, bank of america,,,ect....its not like i need a new jet or a bridge to no where,,, any thoughts on how long it will take?

Hey, I am sick of taxes and someone else spending my money and not listening to the American people. You pay taxes when you make it, you pay taxes when you spend it, you pay taxes at year end on tax returns, you pay property and assessment taxes. My Gosh, why am I working!!!

I am a small business owner, own a house, born and raised in America. When will the small businesses get help. Oh you say the stimulus package. Well let me tell you...when I checked into this for us in the state of Arkansas I was told that Arkansas didn't get much as it was divided out by state population and not much there for Arkansas. Go figure!

America is in a mess. Shall we clean house in Washington from the ground up? I am so sick of the government not listening to American people. I'm ready to go to Washington and protest and I've never did that. But ..... what is it going to take to make America the "respected land of the rich and brave"?!

We Americans need to bond together and stand together!!!! They've had the advantage before because we just took it all. NOW IS THE TIME TO CHANGE!!!!!@!@!

is it fair to say yet that the "stimulus" package that 90% of americans were against but these fat bastards in washington railroaded through anyway, can we call it bullshit yet? it has not created one single job... in fact we are still shedding jobs at record levels (250,000 last month), unemployment will reach 10% before the year is out, and that doesn't even figure in the people who are unemployed but out of benefits, and now they are reneging on their promise not to raise taxes on the middle class to pay for this steaming pile of crap... as if we didn't know that was a lie in the first place. when are you "reporters" at morning express going to do some real reporting? expose this shit for what it is, and stop pretending like you know what you are talking about... this goes particularly for you, westhoven! you obviously don't know a single thing about economics and just keep parroting the BS they put on your tele-prompter. it is so infuriating that i can barely watch anymore.

Is there any part of the stimulus package directed towards ex college students that have graduated and make less money than they owe while working in a related field to their degree? ... Cause thats my situation lol

peace