Getting the Economy Moving—A Stimulus Package

SUMMARY

Short-term and long-term measures aimed at restoring American confidence in the economy and in progressives’ handling of the economy.

This memo offers a menu of short-term and long-term ideas to get the economy moving in the short-term and to establish a long-term foundation for future middle-class prosperity. Among the options we offer are:

1. A package of short-term middle-class tax cuts to boost consumer spending;
2. Ways to offer temporary help to families who’ve hit a rough patch through no fault of their own;
3. Permanent middle-class tax cuts to create new middle-class opportunity and wealth; and
4. Ideas for spurring new business investment and creating jobs.

We also counsel progressives to avoid the temptation of talking down the economy or the prospects of the middle class. While middle-class Americans are concerned and anxious about the economy, they remain largely optimistic about their personal financial situation and will tune out a message that is heavily pessimistic.

To read this Memo, open the attached PDF