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Local Members Of Congress Weigh In On Obama Plan

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Jan 5, 2009 7:26 pm US/Eastern

Local Members Of Congress Weigh In On Obama Plan

Reporting
Jon Delano
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― He's not president yet -- but Barack Obama went to Capitol Hill today to jumpstart his economic recovery plan.

"Inauguration stand is being built in the background, but the reason we're here today is that the people's business can't wait," the President-elect told reporters, as he met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. "We've got an extraordinary economic challenge ahead of us."

Obama met with both House and Senate leaders to drum up quick support for his plan.

And in a new twist to spur the economy, the president now thinks a $300 billion tax cut should be part of the recovery plan.

That won quick support locally.

"These are extraordinary times," said U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire. "We have to do a stimulus to get the economy going, and I do think tax cuts should be a part of that."

Under the initial Obama plan, most workers would get a $500 tax break, $1,000 a couple. Businesses would get a tax credit for any losses they suffered over the last five years, and companies could get a one-year tax benefit if they hire new workers this year.

"I think this is going to help sell the plan. Everyone is a little bit worried about the dollar amounts that we're talking about," Altmire adds.

U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle says the Obama tax plan must focus on middle income families to win his support.

"The upper one or two percent of this country's enjoyed lots of tax cuts during the Bush administration. The people who have been left out of this equation have been the middle class and working families," says Doyle.
 
It's a point echoed by western Pennsylvania's newest member of Congress -- Democrat Kathy Dalhkemper of Erie who represents the northern suburbs of Pittsburgh in Butler and Armstrong Counties.

"The working people in this country do need a break," says Dahlkemper. "They're struggling to make ends meet. A lot of them have taken -- have had no increases in pay and have taken a pay cut."

And while Obama would like to sign the bill on Inauguration day, mid-February seems more likely.

Tomorrow, members of Congress take their oath of office to serve in the 111th Congress.

In years past, they would quickly adjourn after that -- not coming back to work until late January.

This year is different.

The Congress expects to work non-stop until the Washington Birthday holiday in mid-February -- by which time the new president should have some sort of an economic recovery plan on his desk. 


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