Thursday, January 29, 2009

Details on the Stimulus Bill Passed in the House

From Market Watch:

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- The U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday approved an $819 billion economic stimulus package. The bill includes $275 billion in tax cuts, $523 billion in direct spending, and other provisions. The bill, passed 244-188 on a straight party-line vote, would cut taxes for individuals and businesses, provide billions of dollars for infrastructure projects, help states balance their budgets, and provide relief to millions of people who've lost their jobs or homes. Read more on the House passage of the stimulus bill.

Here are the chief provisions of the bill:

Tax cuts
Payroll-tax holiday: $99 billion
Expanded earned-income tax credit: $25 billion
Tuition tax credit: $10 billion
Business expensing tax breaks: $90 billion
Renewable-energy tax credit: $20 billion

Relief
Expanded unemployment insurance: $42 billion
Health insurance for unemployed: $40 billion
Expanded food stamps: $20 billion
Housing assistance: $11 billion
Supplemental Security Income payments: $4 billion
Welfare: $3 billion

Infrastructure
Highways: $30 billion
School renovation: $20 billion
Health information technology: $17 billion
Transportation projects: $16 billion
Water projects: $8.4 billion
Military and V.A. construction: $7 billion
Accelerated deployment of broadband: $5.6 billion

Help for state and local governments
Medicaid cost sharing: $87 billion
State grants: $79 billion
State and local bond tax credit: $42 billion
Community development: $5 billion
Rural development: $4 billion

Energy efficiency
Federal energy-efficiency projects: $22 billion
Energy-efficiency grants: $18.5 billion
Smart electric grid: $11 billion
Renewable-energy loan guarantees: $8 billion

Human capital
Education programs: $29 billion
Pell grants: $18 billion
Job training: $4.6 billion
Scientific research: $3 billion