US Senate panel OKs expanded economic stimulus package

0 Comments | AFP, January, 2008

WASHINGTON (AFP) — The US Senate Finance Committee Wednesday passed a 157 billion dollar economic stimulus package that expands tax benefits already agreed by the House of Representatives and the White House.

The package, which passed on a bipartisan 14-7 vote, reduces the per-person amount of tax rebates promised in the House bill but extends the rebates to an additional 20 million elderly Americans living on social security benefits, and to others with low incomes. It also lengthens unemployment benefits.

The full Senate is expected to take up the economic stimulus package on Thursday.

"This package will put rebates into the hands of 20 million additional American seniors, plus lower-income payroll taxpayers and disabled veterans -- all of whom will spend...