It took only weeks for the notoriously slow Congress to pass the $787 billion economic stimulus package. President Barack Obama signed it into law less than one month into his presidency.
So when should most people hope to start seeing
the benefits of tax cuts in it?
By April 1, according to the president.
"Never before in our history has a tax cut taken effect faster or gone to so many hardworking Americans," Obama said Saturday in his weekly radio and Internet address.The president said his signature two-year "Making Work Pay" tax break will affect 95 percent of working families, and, in six weeks' time,
a typical family will start taking home at least $65 more every month.
Taxpayers won't get a separate check mailed to them like many did with last year's one-time payment designed by the Bush administration to help boost the economy.
Instead, Obama's credit —
up to $400 credit for individuals and up to $800 credit for married couples — is to be doled out through the rest of the year through paychecks.
Most workers are to see about a $13 per week increase in their take-home pay. In 2010, the credit would be about
$7.70 a week, if it is spread over the entire year.