Jobs and Growth Package Response

Here is what prominent economic experts are saying about the President’s economic growth proposal:

"President Bush's fiscal stimulus package is desirable not only to deal with the current sluggishness in the economy, but also with the longer term problems arising from disincentives to save, invest and work in America."
(Richard Vedder, Distinguished Professor of Economics, Ohio University)

“The President’s economic growth package is a very positive step forward for investors, workers, and taxpayers. For the sake of the economy, we hope that Congress will speedily enact the President's tax relief proposals and NTU will be working toward that goal.”
(John Berthoud, President, National Taxpayers Union)

"The package is a great New Year's surprise. We'll be raising our economic and equity outlooks and lowering our unemployment rate expectations."
(David Malpass, Bear Stearns & Co. Inc.)

"A brilliant, double-barreled tax cut that will increase the income of every American worker and create millions of new and better jobs."
(Martin Anderson, Keith and Jan Hurlbut Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University)

“President Bush's proposed growth plan is not just a bunch of random tax cuts, it is a plan that really pushes the ‘growth buttons’ by improving incentives to work, save and invest, and is a step toward real tax reform. This package, along with recent improvements in the tax treatment of business investment, will give a real lift to jobs and GDP.”
(Stephen J. Entin, President and Executive Director, Institute for Research on the Economics of Taxation (IRET))

"By accelerating tax rate reductions and eliminating the double-taxation of dividends, President Bush's tax package would significantly increase the economy's performance. But the proposal also represents much-need tax reform and is a significant step toward a simple and fair system like the flat tax."
(Dan Mitchell, The Heritage Foundation)

"President Bush's proposal on dividends ameliorates the double-taxation of corporate profits, ending the incentives in our tax code #1 to over-leverage business, with the consequence of too much debt and vulnerability to the business cycle, and #2 to over-rely on accounting numbers rather than the pay-out of cash. His proposal on expensing of capital expenditures will help invigorate our economic recovery."
(Clifford F. Thies, Professor of Economics and Finance at Shenandoah University, and member of the Board of Directors of the American Association of Small Property Owners (AASPO))

"The double taxation of dividends has never made sense and this is a perfect time to remove this crazy form of taxation. It not only harms economic growth in the obvious ways, but also in subtle ways. Given the wave of recent corporate scandals, this is the perfect time to introduce a policy change that will simultaneously increase investor confidence while creating greater accountability for managers."
(Brian J. Hall, Associate Professor, Harvard Business School)

"Taxpayers at all income levels should cheer President Bush's call for greater tax relief. These pro-growth and pro-family tax cuts are well-timed to provide stimulus for the U.S. economy."
(Russell Lamb, North Carolina State University)

“The President's proposal eliminates unfairness in the tax code, distributes the gains widely to Americans who pay income taxes, and creates incentives for growth. What more can we ask?”
(Don Booth, Professor of Economics, Chapman University)

"The President Economic Growth Package is a solid and aggressive plan to further boost economic growth and job creation in 2003 and beyond. The cuts in marginal tax rates will allow all individuals to better spend, save, and invest, and they are especially beneficial to the ongoing viability of the small businesses that pay taxes at the individual level such as Subchapter S Corporations."
(Paul Merski, Chief Economist & Director of Federal Tax Policy, Independent Community Bankers of America)

“I think this is a bold economic package that both provides much-needed near-term economic stimulus and boosts after-tax incentives for growth and investment. The current double-taxation of dividends is unjustifiable on economic efficiency grounds and its elimination should provide a welcome lift to the equity market by increasing after-tax returns on stocks and further improve corporate governance by encouraging firms to increase dividend payouts. The acceleration of the marginal tax rate cuts from 2006 into 2003 should eliminate incentives to defer income and economic activity, which in turn should further boost economic growth in 2003. This is the most significant proposal to roll back tax disincentives to growth and stimulate the economy since the Reagan tax cuts.”
(John Ryding, Chief Market Economist, Bear Stearns & Co. Inc.)

"This is the type of bold action needed to jump start the stagnant U.S. economy. When these measures go into effect, the U.S. industrial sector will resume its role of innovating and creating jobs to provide an engine for growth in the global economy."
(Thomas J. Duesterberg, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI, a public policy and business research organization in Arlington, VA)

“The president's plan is directly targeting consumer spending and investment incentives. The reduction of marriage penalty, the increase in child tax credit, the extension of unemployment benefit and speeding up tax relief will help revive consumer spending, increase confidence and boost aggregate demand in the short-run. The end of double taxation of dividends and increasing incentives for small businesses should help sustain momentum in favor of job creation and long-term growth.”
(Magda Kandil, International Monetary Fund)

"Once again, President Bush is demonstrating his strong leadership ability. This stimulus package is just the type of measure this economy needs to get back on track. Just upon hearing about it the markets have reacted wildly in response. Imagine how it'll be when it's enacted."
(Horace Cooper, Centre for New Black Leadership)

"Business investment is key to fostering healthy levels of economic growth. President Bush's plan offers much needed capital and incentives to the sector of the economy shouldering the bulk of job creation, economic growth and innovation -- small businesses and entrepreneurs. We are also encouraged by the President's proposal to eliminate the double taxation of dividends. With the strength of the economy becoming increasingly dependent on the health of the equity markets, this measure will help restore both certainty and investor confidence. The overall package is good for small business, which means it's good for America."
(Karen Kerrigan, Chair, Small Business Survival Committee)

“The President's plan alleviates one of the most economically destructive distortions in the tax law and also provides welcome relief to small businesses.”
(David R. Burton, The Argus Group)

“President Bush’s ‘Taking Action to Strengthen America’s Economy’ plan is a sound and well thought out policy package. The plan offers not only short-term stimulus for the American economy but it also lays the foundation for long-term, non-inflationary, economic growth for the decades ahead. By extending unemployment benefits, the plan reaches out to those workers who, through no fault of their own, find themselves out of work. In addition, the creation of the new Personal Reemployment Accounts will help to ensure that America has the most dynamic labor markets the world has ever seen. One of the most impressive things about the plan is that it is not limited to only short-term stimulus. President Bush obviously understands the importance of long-term economic growth for America’s future. By eliminating the double taxation of dividend income President Bush’s plan will allow Americans to save for effectively for their retirements and to save money for their children’s future. In addition, by encouraging small businesses to invest and invent the plan will help to ensure the rapid advancement of American productivity. These productivity increases will help to insure that America’s children of today will enjoy a higher standard of living than their parents and their grandparents. The positive effects of the President’s plan will be felt for decades into the future.”
(Michael W. Brandl, Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business, Department of Finance)