Bush Says Country Will Be ‘Just Fine’ With Stimulus Package

FREDERICK, Md. (AP) — President Bush says if Congress passes an economic stimulus package, the country will be “just fine.”

He spoke at a manufacturing plant in Frederick, Maryland – hours after he outlined what he’d like to see in a stimulus package. In the White House announcement, Bush supported as much as $150 billion in tax relief. He said there must be tax incentives for business investment and quick tax relief for individuals.

Bush said the package should represent about one percent of the gross domestic product, or about $150 billion.

As he visited the plant in Maryland, Bush said, “We need to get this deal done and get it out.” He said he thinks there can be an agreement on a growth package “very quickly.”

He said earlier that there’s a “risk of a downturn.”

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson says the largest part of the stimulus package would be targeted to individual taxpayers.

One Republican official says Bush is hoping to target about $100 billion toward individuals, and about $50 billion businesses.

Congressional leaders have been working on a broader package that would also include a temporary increase in food stamps. And, there’d be an extension of unemployment benefits, which also could increase.