WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush said on Friday he would sign a $152 billion economic stimulus package into law next week.
"We are in a period of economic uncertainty and we've acted again," Bush told a conservative conference in Washington. "I want to thank the members (of Congress) for passing a good piece of legislation, which I will sign into law next week."
The legislation will provide one-time rebates of up to $600 for individuals or $1,200 for couples, plus $300 for each child. Low-income people, including retirees on Social Security and disabled veterans who pay no income taxes, would receive checks of $300.
To win more Republican support in the closely divided Senate, Democrats had to drop proposed benefits for long-term unemployed workers and other provisions that would have helped low-income people pay heating bills and home builders write off current year losses against previous tax years.
With the latest economic date suggesting the U.S. economy is stalling, the bill will inject nearly $152 billion into the economy this year and more than $16 billion next year.
(Reporting by Matt Spetalnick and Alan Elsner)
