Feb 10 As a Stimulus, Would it Work to Give Money to Americans to Cover Their Mortgage or Credit Debt? By Business Desk Question/Comment: As a stimulus to the economy, would it work to give money to Americans to cover their mortgage or credit debt? Paul Solman: Any spending is a stimulus. You might take a few minutes to read, as I just… Continue reading
Feb 09 Watch Obama Makes Case to Nation for Stimulus Plan President Barack Obama gave a prime-time press conference Monday to make his case to the public for an economic stimulus plan and to respond to other policy issues. Following is the text of Mr. Obama's prepared statement and the full… Continue watching
Feb 09 Watch Other News: Geithner Makes TARP Changes; 4 U.S. Soldiers Killed in Iraq Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner finalized a plan outlining changes to the TARP plan Congress passed last year, and four U.S. soldiers were killed in Iraq Monday in a suicide car bombing. Continue watching
Feb 09 $838 Billion Stimulus Plan Clears Senate Procedural Hurdle By Admin, PBS News Hour The Senate on Monday voted 61-36 to end debate on an $838 billion economic stimulus bill, one more vote than needed to avoid a potential filibuster on the measure when it goes to a final vote as early as Tuesday. Continue reading
Feb 09 Watch Obama Courts Public Support for Economic Stimulus Plan President Obama traveled to Indiana Monday and planned a primetime news conference to build support for the stimulus bill that is nearing a final Senate vote. Reporters examine the next steps for the stimulus plan. Continue watching
Feb 09 In a Finite World, Can We Really Have Infinite Growth? Question/Comment: Given we live in a finite world, how can economists explain the viability of an economic system which demands infinite growth? Paul Solman: They’d be hard-pressed, I guess. But not necessarily stumped. I can think of three responses. 1)… Continue reading
Feb 06 Senate Closes In on Deal for Stimulus Plan By Admin, PBS News Hour The Democratic-led U.S. Senate appeared to strike a deal Friday evening with key Republicans on a long-debated stimulus package to stem a deepening recession, news agencies report. Continue reading
Feb 06 Watch Shields and Brooks Mull Stimulus Debate, Obama’s Next Policy Steps Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the tough debate on Capitol Hill over the stimulus bill, the tax trouble that ended Tom Daschle's Cabinet nomination and how President Obama is faring so far. Continue watching
Feb 06 Watch Good Bank vs. Bad Bank: Segregating Toxic Assets Might Help U.S. Economy Rebound Business correspondent Paul Solman explores the problem of banks holding toxic assets and explains how the Swedes successfully emerged from a similar economic crisis by splitting banks into "good" and "bad" categories. Continue watching
Feb 06 Watch In Other News, Stocks Rise on Wall Street, Calif. Budget Crisis Deepens Despite a dismal jobs report, the market rose as the Senate began debating the economic stimulus bill. California closed most of its government offices today due to its worsening budget shortfalls, forcing more than 200,000 state workers to stay home… Continue watching