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House Leaders Discuss Stimulus Package(AP Online Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) WASHINGTON_Top House leaders discussed plans for tax rebates, breaks for business and additional food stamp and unemployment insurance benefits as President Bush and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke voiced support for steps to avert a recession. "Putting money into the hands of households and firms that would spend it in the near term" is a priority, Bernanke told a House committee. Bush scheduled a speech for Friday to lay out his criteria for the program. Bernanke, testifying before the House Budget Committee, said such a plan should be aimed at quickly getting cash into the hands of people, especially those with low and moderate incomes. Bush wasn't going to spell out any specifics in his remarks, but instead demand that any package be effective and temporary, said White House press secretary Dana Perino. Perino said that Bush and congressional leaders from both parties consulted via conference call Thursday for about 30 minutes about their plans to work together on growth measures. In the Capitol, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has talked of a package totaling $100 billion or more. The rush to swing behind a stimulus plan underscored the political imperative of responsing to a growing concern about the possibility of recession. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below. WASHINGTON (AP) _ Top House leaders discussed plans for tax rebates, breaks for business and additional food stamp and unemployment insurance benefits as President Bush and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke voiced support for steps to avert a recession. "Putting money into the hands of households and firms that would spend it in the near term" is a priority, Bernanke told a House committee. Bush scheduled a speech for Friday to lay out his criteria for the program. Bernanke, testifying before the House Budget Committee, said such a plan should be aimed at quickly getting cash into the hands of people, especially those with low and moderate incomes. Bush wasn't going to spell out any specifics in his remarks, but instead demand that any package be effective and temporary, said White House press secretary Dana Perino. Perino said that Bush and congressional leaders from both parties consulted via conference call Thursday for about 30 minutes about their plans to work together on growth measures. Copyright ? 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |