Bluey Blog - Official Blog of Robert B. Bluey

Don’t Send Me an $800 Handout

President Bush doesn’t like to admit he’s made mistakes. But if White House chatter about an economic stimulus package is true, the president is about to repeat a misstep made early in his first term.

I’m talking about the 2001 tax rebates — government handouts that arrived in the mail. Individuals got $300 and married couples received $600 — all in hopes of stimulating the economy.

With the economy slowing again, tax rebates are back on the table for the White House — only this time dollar amounts could be doubled — and then some. The administration is contemplating rebate checks of up to $800 for individuals and $1,600 for married couples.

As I write for Townhall today, this misguided policy would certainly help redistribute existing wealth. But if Bush and members of Congress are serious about staving off a recession, they need to come up with a new plan — one that will grow the economy.