CINXE.COM

<html xmlns:tvservices="http://www.msnbc.com"><head><script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=7YQSqjSh" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("http://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("http://www.msnbc.msn.com:80/id/28278398/","20081218065540","http://web.archive.org/","web","https://web-static.archive.org/_static/", "1229583340"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=p7PEIJWi" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <title>Obama team considers $850 billion stimulus - Economy in Turmoil- msnbc.com</title><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/web/20081218065540cs_/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/css/html40.css"/><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/web/20081218065540cs_/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/default.ashx/id/21589549"/><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/web/20081218065540cs_/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/default.ashx/id/21731378"/><script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20081218065540js_/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/js/std.js"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20081218065540js_/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23149822"></script><script type="text/javascript">gEnabled=false;</script><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"><meta http-equiv="pics-label" content="(pics-1.1 "http://www.icra.org/ratingsv02.html" l gen true for "http://www.msnbc.msn.com" r (nz 1vz 1lz 1oz 1cz 1) "http://www.rsac.org/ratingsv01.html" l gen true for "http://www.msnbc.msn.com" r (l 0n 0s 0v 0))"><meta name="description" content="Eager to jolt a worsening economy back to life, President-elect Barack Obama's aides are assembling a two-year stimulus package that could cost $850 billion."><meta name="Search.Document" content="story"><meta name="Search.Title" content="Obama team considers $850 billion stimulus"><meta name="Search.Image" content="/ap/c64cd6ba-f8b4-41df-9a79-5320b7b4ae0d.jpg"><meta name="Search.Source" content="The Associated Press"><meta name="Search.Updated" content="Thu, 18 Dec 2008 01:28:37 GMT"><meta name="Search.Expires" content="Fri, 31 Dec 9999 23:59:59 GMT"><meta name="Search.Section" content="Economy in Turmoil"><meta name="Search.ImageSource" content="AP"><meta name="keywords" content="Washington,u"><link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="MSNBC - Economy in Turmoil" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26843300/device/rss/rss.xml" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/"/><link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="MSNBC - Top Stories" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://rss.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032091/device/rss/rss.xml"><script language="javascript" type="text/javascript"> this.nm_bo = function (o) { //newsmenu delay if (nm_Enter) { window.clearTimeout(nm_Enter); nm_Enter = 0; } // Get initiating button if (o) { o2 = o.relatedTarget; o = o.target; } else { o = window.event.srcElement; o2 = window.event.toElement; } // Force to our object; ignore if internal o = nm_ne(o, 'onmouseout'); o2 = nm_ne(o2, 'onmouseout'); if (o == o2) return; // Turn off active color nm_mo(o); } this.nm_mo = function (o) { //newsmenu delay if (nm_Enter) { window.clearTimeout(nm_Enter); nm_Enter = 0; } // Check if we opened a menu if ((nm_nNew == 1) && (nm_nD)) { // Just opened the menu, so set the new menu protection timeout nm_nNew = 2; nm_tNew = window.setTimeout('nm_mt();', 250); // Remember to turn off highlight later document.getElementById('nm_c' + nm_nD).nm_aOff = new Array(o); } else { // Turn off the highlight style for this item if (nm_sx(o.className) == 'H') { o.className = o.className.slice(0, -1); if (o.firstChild.className) { o.firstChild.className = o.firstChild.className.slice(0, -1); } } } // Clear deferred arguments nm_aDef = 0; // Set dismiss timer nm_tDis = window.setTimeout('nm_mx(0,0)', 500); } </script><link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540im_/http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/Components/ArtAndPhoto-Fronts/SITEWIDE/apple-touch-icon.png"/><script type="text/javascript">  </script></head><body onload="clearGridTimer();"><script>startGridTimer();</script><script type="text/javascript" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540js_/http://ads1.msn.com/library/dap.js"></script><a href="#skipnav" style="display:none;visibility:hidden">Skip navigation</a>  <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">s_account="msnbcom"</script> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540js_/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/js/s_code.js"></script> <script>pd_top('Story','html40','28278398','Obama team considers $850 billion stimulus','Eager to jolt a worsening economy back to life, President-elect Barack Obama\'s aides are assembling a two-year stimulus package that could cost $850 billion.','Business','Economy in Turmoil','','1','2','20:28, 17/12/08','','hmedium','','','26843300','86918','', '1',0, {AdBanner:{AdGroup:'NBC9DK',AdSizeCode:'1390',Width:'728',Height:'90'},AdBannerFront:{AdGroup:'NBC9DK',AdSizeCode:'1390',Width:'728',Height:'90'},AdSponsor:{},AdOverThePage:{}} ,'MSNBC','true','The Associated Press','','','MSNBC');var rrList=['tASMpIZZTO2hc5%2bRAQGrwQ%3d%3d','CGutwCZ6%2f7SFPVMAkfmH%2fQ%3d%3d','cvwezhF%2bTxn4vHmpuIMM5A%3d%3d','qSg91wO22uB8atwNk5NOdQ%3d%3d','0XQkNyTAQ95PJmWeva5xEg%3d%3d','8Yjw%2f%2b4%2b9JaZiSRaeK%2bc%2bw%3d%3d','PKogeQx1GTGZ4qLdh70uvA%3d%3d','ysRi9Gx%2fe5CylBx1U4RTWg%3d%3d','Z2sueXRXEVPwm2pEyRXOHw%3d%3d','ZCHwFOKmBCuKVhWfAbXHmw%3d%3d'];pd_rr('pWujlUvX4wU6UeDFvwvkYHjJbpftDYDx%2bEvYU42CEtnI6kV4sKbg4tS1qQGfpFcr','CTc9%2fyAXp%2b45SkoL6QJumA%3d%3d','long','7f333340-ad1e-4978-9b5d-f92512fa6938','rr%253ft%253f%253f%253f%253foT%253f%253f7f%252c%253f%253f%250b%253f%253f%253f%253f','53467605',3,510);pd_om('msnbcom','100');</script> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript"></script> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://www.omniture.com/" title="Web Analytics"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540im_/http://msnbcom.112.2o7.net/b/ss/msnbcom/1/H.15.1--NS/0" height="1" width="1" border="0" alt=""/></a></noscript>  <img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540im_/http://c.msn.com/c.gif?NC=1255&NA=1154&PS=86918&PI=7329&DI=305&TP=http%3a%2f%2fmsnbc.msn.com%2fid%2f28278398%2f" width="0" height="0" border="0" alt=""/><div id="nm_c1" class="nmX"> </div><div id="nm_c2" class="nmX"> </div><div id="nm_c3" class="nmX"> </div><div id="nm_c4" class="nmX"> </div><div id="AdBanner_S"><table width="779" height="105" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="adbar" id="AdBanner_F1"> <tr> <td align="center" valign="top"><script type="text/javascript">dap('&PG=NBC9DK&AP=1390','728','90');</script></td> </tr> </table> <script>HideAdFrame('AdBanner');</script></div><div id="header"><div id="hdr-content"><div id="msnbc-logo"> <a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540im_/http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/Components/CSS/img/spacer.gif" alt="msnbc.com home" height="73" width="285"></a> </div><div id="nav-top"><div id="msn"><ul><li class="search"><fieldset id="searchset"><input type="text" id="q" name="q" size="30" maxlength="215" tabindex="1" class="sw_qbox" onkeypress="CheckEnterPressed(event,1)"><input type="button" name="search" value="" class="sw_qbtn" onclick="DoSearch(0)"><input type="hidden" name="id" value="11881780" id="id"></fieldset></li><li class="link"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://g.msn.com/0nwenus0/AE/00" rel="nofollow">MSN Home</a>   |  </li> <li class="link"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://g.msn.com/0nwenus0/AE/02?SU=http://msnbc.msn.com/" rel="nofollow">Mail</a></li> <li class="more"><a href="javascript:toggleMSNMore()">More</a><div id="msnMore" class="blockClosed"><ul class="linkedimglinklist"><li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://mail.live.com/"><img width="25" height="20" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540im_/http://tk2.stb.s-msn.com/i/B6/32E46DE281A68B9C33FC582D2569D.gif" alt="">Hotmail</a></li><li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://im.live.com/messenger/im/home/?source=MSNTDLINK"><img width="25" height="20" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540im_/http://tk2.stb.s-msn.com/i/48/86F1396496DFE1BAD68AB5F28409.gif" alt="">Messenger</a></li><li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://my.msn.com/"><img width="25" height="20" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540im_/http://tk2.stb.s-msn.com/i/48/6CDE404B4BFEC334D023E5422081E0.gif" alt="">My MSN</a></li><li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://specials.msn.com/alphabet.aspx"><img width="25" height="20" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540im_/http://tk2.stb.s-msn.com/i/78/7CE57843948D6DF13E79A2DE4E15C.gif" alt="">MSN Directory</a></li></ul><ul class="linklist"><li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://travel.msn.com/default.aspx">Air Tickets/Travel</a></li><li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://autos.msn.com/default.aspx">Autos</a></li><li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://careers.msn.com/">Careers & Jobs</a></li><li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://cityguides.msn.com/">City Guides</a></li><li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://msn.match.com/index.aspx?TrackingID=516163&BannerID=543351 ">Dating & Personals</a></li></ul><ul class="linklist"><li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://msn.delish.com/">Food & Entertaining</a></li><li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://games.msn.com/">Games</a></li><li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://green.msn.com/">Green Living</a></li><li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://health.msn.com/">Health & Fitness</a></li><li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://astrocenter.astrology.msn.com/msn/DeptHoroscope.aspx?When=0&Af=-1000&VS">Horoscopes</a></li></ul><ul class="linklist"><li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://moneycentral.msn.com/investor/home.aspx?icid=money_invhome">Investing</a></li><li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://lifestyle.msn.com/default.aspx">Lifestyle</a></li><li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?wip=2&v=2&rtp=~&FORM=MSNH">Maps & Directions</a></li><li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://moneycentral.msn.com/home.asp">Money</a></li><li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://movies.msn.com/">Movies</a></li></ul><ul class="linklist"><li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://music.msn.com/">Music</a></li><li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/">News</a></li><li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://realestate.msn.com/">Real Estate/Rentals</a></li><li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://g.msn.com/0AD00036/931292.1??HCType=1&CID=931292&PG=SHPHDR">Shopping</a></li><li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://msn.foxsports.com/?MSNHPHTN">Sports</a></li></ul><ul class="linklist"><li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://tech.msn.com/">Tech & Gadgets</a></li><li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://tv.msn.com/">TV</a></li><li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://weather.msn.com/">Weather</a></li><li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://msn.whitepages.com/">White Pages</a></li><li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://yellowpages.msn.com/">Yellow Pages</a></li></ul></div></li><li class="link"></li><li class="msn_logo"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://www.msn.com/"><span>msn.com</span></a></li></ul></div> <div id="nbc" class="horiz-menu"><ul> <li class="item1">featuring</li> <li class="item2" id="nmb" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032632" nm_suf="http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nm0" cn="Today Show"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/">Today Show</a></li> <li class="item3" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032618" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nm0" cn="Nightly News"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/">Nightly News</a></li> <li class="item4" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032599" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nm0" cn="Dateline NBC"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032600/">Dateline</a></li> <li class="item5" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032607" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nm0" cn="Meet the Press"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032608/">Meet the Press</a></li> <li class="item6" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3096433" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nm0" cn="MSNBC TV"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3096434/">MSNBC TV</a></li> <li class="item7" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032112" nm_suf="http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nm0" cn="NBC Sports"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/">NBC Sports</a></li> </ul></div> </div></div></div><div id="bantop"><div class="container"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a class="btn-home" href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/" title="Return to the msnbc.com homepage"> </a><ul class="breadcrumbs"><li class="item1"><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032072">Business</a></li><li class="item2"><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26843303">Economy in Turmoil</a></li></ul></div><div id="bantopBadge"><style> #bantop .container{ overflow: visible; } #badgeContainer{ font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #000; width: 317px; height: 35px; margin-top: 0px; } #badgeContainer a, #badgeContainer a:visited{ color: #000; text-decoration: none; font-size: 20px; } #badgeContainer a:hover #badgeTxt, #badgeContainer a:hover #badgeImg{ color: #C00; text-decoration: underline; } #badgeContainer #badgeTxt{ float: left; width: 80px; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; } #badgeContainer #badgeImg{ background: transparent url(http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540im_/http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/MSNBC/Components/ArtAndPhoto-Fronts/BUSINESS/Projects/Economy_turmoil/Badge/EconomyTurmoil-badge.png) no-repeat top left; float: right; width: 125px; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal; height: 52px; padding: 17px 0px 0px 220px; text-align: left; display: block; z-index:2; position:relative; top:-5px; } .IE #bantop .container{ position: relative; } .IE #bantopBadge{ position: absolute; right: 0; } .IE-7 #badgeContainer #badgeImg, .IE-6 #badgeContainer #badgeImg{ width: 235px; } .IE-6 #badgeContainer #badgeImg{ background-image: none; filter: progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.AlphaImageLoader(src='http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/MSNBC/Components/ArtAndPhoto-Fronts/BUSINESS/Projects/Economy_turmoil/Badge/EconomyTurmoil-badge.png', sizingMethod='crop'); cursor:hand; } .IE-6 #badgeContainer a { position:relative; height:0px; cursor:hand; } .IE-6 #badgeContainer a:hover { text-decoration:underline; cursor:hand; } </style> <div id="badgeContainer"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26843303"><span id="badgeTxt"></span><span id="badgeImg"></span></a> </div><div id="AdSponsor_SF"><table> <td width="77" align="right" id="AdSponsor_F1"> <span>sponsored by </span> </td> <td width="123" id="AdSponsor_F2"><style>#AdSponsor_SF {display:none;}</style></td> </table></div></div></div></div><div id="story"><div class="container"><div id="nav-left"><div id="newsMAIN"><table class="nmTS" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td class="nmIP">Categories</td></tr><tr><td class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032524" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nm0" cn="U.S. news"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032525">U.S. news</a></td></tr><tr><td class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032506" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nm0" cn="World news"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032507">World news</a></td></tr><tr><td class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032552" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nm0" cn="Politics"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032553">Politics</a></td></tr><tr><td><table class="nmTB" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td class="nmIBD" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032071" nm_suf="" cm_sf="Ex" cm="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nm0" cn="Business"><a class="nmLBD" href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032072">Business</a></td></tr><tr><td class="nmIB" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032221" nm_suf="" cm_sf="Ex" cm="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nxf" cn="Stocks & economy"><a class="nmLB" href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032222">Stocks & economy</a></td></tr><tr><td class="nmIB" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3174182" nm_suf="" cm_sf="Ex" cm="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nxf" cn="U.S. business"><a class="nmLB" href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3174179">U.S. business</a></td></tr><tr><td class="nmIB" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3158180" nm_suf="" cm_sf="Ex" cm="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nxf" cn="World business"><a class="nmLB" href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3033668">World business</a></td></tr><tr><td class="nmIB" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3033655" nm_suf="" cm_sf="Ex" cm="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nxf" cn="Autos"><a class="nmLB" href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3033656">Autos</a></td></tr><tr><td class="nmIB" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="8874569" nm_suf="" cm_sf="Ex" cm="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nxf" cn="Real estate"><a class="nmLB" href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8874568">Real estate</a></td></tr><tr><td class="nmIB" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="21600445" nm_suf="" cm_sf="Ex" cm="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nxf" cn="Retail"><a class="nmLB" href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21600465">Retail</a></td></tr><tr><td class="nmIB" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="15208498" nm_suf="" cm_sf="Ex" cm="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nxf" cn="Careers"><a class="nmLB" href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15208496">Careers</a></td></tr><tr><td class="nmIB" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032257" nm_suf="" cm_sf="Ex" cm="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nxf" cn="Personal finance"><a class="nmLB" href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032258">Personal finance</a></td></tr><tr><td class="nmIB" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3627248" nm_suf="" cm_sf="Ex" cm="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nxf" cn="Small business"><a class="nmLB" href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3627254">Small business</a></td></tr><tr><td class="nmIB" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="22690827" nm_suf="" cm_sf="Ex" cm="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nxf" cn="Viewpoints "><a class="nmLB" href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22690835">Viewpoints </a></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032112" nm_suf="http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nm0" cn="Sports"><a class="nmLS" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/3032113">Sports</a></td></tr><tr><td class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032083" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nm0" cn="Entertainment"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032084">Entertainment</a></td></tr><tr><td class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3088327" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nm0" cn="Health"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032076">Health</a></td></tr><tr><td class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032117" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nm0" cn="Tech & science"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032118">Tech & science</a></td></tr><tr><td class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032122" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nm0" cn="Travel"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032123">Travel</a></td></tr><tr><td class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032127" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nm0" cn="Weather"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032128">Weather</a></td></tr><tr><td class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3104486" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nm0" cn="Local news"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3948437">Local news</a></td></tr><tr><td class="nmIP">Browse</td></tr><tr><td class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="4001724" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nm0" cn="Video"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8004316">Video</a></td></tr><tr><td class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="5183445" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nm0" cn="Photos"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4999736">Photos</a></td></tr><tr><td class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032104" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nm0" cn="Community"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032105">Community</a></td></tr></table><script type="text/javascript">nm_tDef = '1';nm_fSet = 'useropt';</script><script type="text/javascript"> nm_init('/id/', ''); Omni.NewsMenu.ProjectName = 'newsmenu'; Omni.NewsMenu.Top = 'nm0'; Omni.NewsMenu.FirstHeadline = 'n1h'; Omni.NewsMenu.FirstFront = 'n1f'; Omni.NewsMenu.SecondHeadline = 'nm2'; Omni.NewsMenu.ExpandFront = 'nxf'; Omni.NewsMenu.ExpandHeadline = 'nxh'; </script><div id="flyouttogglerow"><a id="togglebutton" class="toggle">Disable Fly-out</a><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6901603"><img alt="What are flyouts?" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540im_/http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/Components/Art/exclamation.jpg" id="exclBtn"></a><script type="text/javascript">nm_st();</script></div><ul id="marketplace" class="nav-menu"> <li class="label">Marketplace</li> <li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://msnbc.pgpartner.com/" target="_new">Shopping</a>Get a Holiday Deal</li> <li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://www.creditreport.com/?src=msnbc&kwd=lntx1 " target="_new">Credit Score $0</a>at CreditReport.com</li> <li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://www.entrepreneur.com/business-opportunities/index.html?cam=msnbc&cid=LeftNav&size=Oppfinder#msnbc" target="_new">Start a business</a>Entrepreneur.com</li> <li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://clk.atdmt.com/NFX/go/msnnknfx0020001525nfx/direct/01/" target="_new">Netflix</a>Try for Free</li> <li><a id="MPMonsterLink" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://clk.atdmt.com/MON/go/msnnkmon0950000211mon/direct/01/" target="_new">Career Center</a>via Monster</li> <li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://clk.atdmt.com/USE/go/msnnkhpg0100000002use/direct/01/">Homes for Sale</a>via HomePages.com</li> <li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;167837766;23040241;g?http://www.scottrade.com?id=1" target="_new">Investments</a> $7 online stock trades</li> </ul></div></div><div id="content" class="w649 fL"><h1>Obama team considers $850 billion stimulus</h1><h2>Option being considered would rival efforts to fight the Great Depression</h2><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tr><td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="padding:25 0 0 15;"><a id="linkImgRelatedPhotos"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540im_/http://msnbcmedia4.msn.com/j/ap/c64cd6ba-f8b4-41df-9a79-5320b7b4ae0d.hmedium.jpg" border="0" style="border:1px solid #000000;" vspace="0" hspace="0" title="Image: Barack Obama" alt="Image: Barack Obama"></a></td><td valign="bottom" width="99%"><div class="caption" style="padding:25 10 0 15;">President-elect Barack Obama is promoting a recovery plan that would feature spending on roads and other infrastructure projects, energy-efficient government buildings, new and renovated schools and environmentally friendly technologies. </div><div style="clear:both"></div><div class="" id="viewRelatedPhotosLink" style="display:none;padding:0 10 0 15;"><a id="linkRelatedPhotos" href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28281029/displaymode/1176/rstry/28278398/"><img src="/web/20081218065540im_/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/images/icons/slideshow.gif" width="20" height="14" vspace="0" border="0" style="margin-bottom:-2px"></a> <a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28281029/displaymode/1176/rstry/28278398/" class="textMedBlackBold">View related photos</a></div><script>var hasRelatedPhotos = 'true';if (hasRelatedPhotos=='true'){var vRPL = document.getElementById("viewRelatedPhotosLink");if (vRPL!=undefined) vRPL.style.display = "";var vLRPG = document.getElementById("linkRelatedPhotos");var vLIRPG = document.getElementById("linkImgRelatedPhotos");if (vLRPG) {if(vLIRPG) vLIRPG.href=vLRPG.href;}}</script></td></tr><tr><td><div class="credit aR">AP</div></td><td></td></tr></table><div class="p12"><div class="WCCol w300 fR clrR"><div style="padding-bottom:20px"><span cm="AutoBox"><script>getCSS("3088867")</script><div style="width:300;" class="box_3088867 cbx cbx-auto" ct="abx" cn="Video: Economy in turmoil" pn="Wall Street Meltdown"><script></script><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxH_3088867"><tr><td width="1%" class="boxHI_3088867"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540im_/http://msnbcmedia2.msn.com/i/msnbc/Components/ColorBoxes/Styles/img/video_icon_v2.gif" border="0" height="14" width="28" vspace="0" hspace="0"></td><td width="*" nowrap class="boxHC_3088867"><div class="hauto textSmallBold">Video: Economy in turmoil</div></td></tr></table><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxB_3088867"><tr valign="top"><td><div style="float:right;margin-left:10px;text-align:right;"><a href="javascript:vPlayer('28285024','9144103f-7506-434f-9c55-a45306bb5283')"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540im_/http://msnbcmedia1.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Video/081217/nn_01regan_maddof_081217.thumb.jpg" border="0" style="border:1px solid #000000;" vspace="0" hspace="0"></a></div><div><div class="textHang" style="padding:5px;"><span class="textMed"><b><a href="javascript:vPlayer('28285024','9144103f-7506-434f-9c55-a45306bb5283')">Madoff under house arrest</a></b></span><br><span class="textMed">Dec. 17: Legendary money manager Bernard Madoff, accused of the biggest fraud in the history of Wall Street, was placed under house arrest by a judge Wednesday as the head of the SEC acknowledged his agency blew it when it came to his case. CNBC's Trish Regan reports.</span></div></div><hr size="1" width="95%" align="center" color="#cccccc" style="clear:all"></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td class="boxBI_3088867"><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="headlineList2"><a href="javascript:vPlayer('28275812','1f3bf285-f6df-4f5a-a0fa-b0542d63cbdf')">Has the Fed run out of options?</a></span></div><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="headlineList2"><a href="javascript:vPlayer('28270163','7c96be28-82c6-4b4d-824e-cb03962d2206')">Bailout's big loophole</a></span></div><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="headlineList2"><a href="javascript:vPlayer('28266905','d552ebbd-f52a-4c27-8422-ee092906a151')">Keeping the economy afloat</a></span></div><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="headlineList2"><a href="javascript:vPlayer('28266742','a06c7b78-19f9-42e3-b4a5-bc24fea52761')">Going to zero</a></span></div></td></tr></table></div></span></div><div pcid="0" style="padding-bottom:20px;"><script>getCSS("3060335")</script><div style="width:300;" class="box_3060335 cbx cbx-data" ct="dbx" cn="3060654" pn=""><script></script><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxH_3060335"><tr><td width="*" nowrap class="boxHC_3060335"><div class="hauto textSmallBold"> Market update</div></td></tr></table><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxB_3060335"><tr valign="top"><td class="boxBI_3060335"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540js_/http://msnbc.msn.com/databox/data.aspx?dbid=3060654&s=$INDU,$COMPX,$INX&js=1&"></script></td></tr></table><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxF_3060335"><tr><td class="boxFI_3060335"><div class="textSmall">Data: <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://go.msn.com/intg/397.asp?target=http://moneycentral.msn.com/partner/redir/msnbc.asp%3Fsource%3Dstockdata">MSN Money</a> and <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://www.comstock-interactivedata.com/">ComStock</a> </div></td></tr></table></div></div><div pcid="0" style="padding-bottom:20px;"><script>getCSS("3053751")</script></div><div style="padding-bottom:20px"><script>getCSS("3088874")</script><div style="width:300;" class="box_3088874 sitewrapperbox cbx cbx-int" ct="its" cn="Who's to blame? " pn=""><script></script><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxH_3088874"><tr><td width="1%" class="boxHI_3088874"><img src="/web/20081218065540im_/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/images/icons/interactive.gif" width="20" height="14"></td><td width="*" nowrap class="boxHC_3088874"><div class="hauto textSmallBold">Interactive </div></td></tr></table><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxB_3088874"><tr valign="top"><td height="100%"><div style="text-align:middle;height:100%;width:100%;background-color:#cccccc;background-image:url('/web/20081218065540im_/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/images/backgrounds/component_dkgrey.gif');text-align:center;"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27183355/ "><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540im_/http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Interactives/_swf/Business/Who_Is_To_Blame_IMAX/TZ_STD_WhoToBlame.vsmall.jpg" border="0" style="border:1px solid white;" vspace="0" hspace="0"></a><div class="scalAd"><input type="button" class="mbox w77" value="Launch" title="Launch" onmouseover="swapbtn(this, 1)" onmouseout="swapbtn(this, 0)" onclick="javascript:window.location.replace('http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27183355/');"></div></div></td><td class="boxBI_3088874"><div class="textHang"><span class="textMedBlackBold"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27183355/ ">Who's to blame? </a></span><br><span class="textMed">A look at some of the entities behind the meltdown of the financial system. </span></div></td></tr></table></div></div></div><div class="CCol w160 fR clrR"><div pcid="0" style="padding-bottom:20px;"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540im_/http://switch.atdmt.com/action/msnus_msnbc_business_040607" height="1" width="1"></div></div><div class="mR165"><div><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540im_/http://msnbcmedia1.msn.com/i/msnbc/Components/Sources/Art/APTRANS.gif" border="0" height="20" width="140" vspace="0" hspace="0"><div class="textTimestamp"><span id="udtD">updated <span class="time">8:28 p.m. ET </span><span class="date">Dec. 17, 2008</span></span><script language="javascript"> function UpdateTimeStamp(pdt) { var n = document.getElementById("udtD"); if(pdt != '' && n && window.DateTime) { var dt = new DateTime(); pdt = dt.T2D(pdt); if(dt.GetTZ(pdt)) {n.innerHTML = dt.D2S(pdt,((''.toLowerCase()=='false')?false:true));} } } UpdateTimeStamp('633651605170430000');</script></div></div><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>WASHINGTON - Eager to jolt a worsening economy back to life, President-elect Barack Obama's aides are assembling a two-year stimulus package that could cost $850 billion, dwarfing last spring's tax rebates and rivaling drastic government actions to fight the Great Depression in the 1930s. </p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>The emerging plan is blend of new jobs, middle-class tax relief and expanded aid for the poor and the unemployed, congressional officials said Wednesday. </p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>Obama has not settled on a grand total, and the final figure could be smaller. But after consulting with outside economists of all political stripes, his advisers have begun telling Congress the stimulus should be bigger than the $600 billion initially envisioned, the officials said. </p><div class="aC" id="AdShowcase_F1"><div class="textSmallGrey w320"><a href="#storyContinued">Story continues below ↓</a><hr noshade size="1">advertisement | <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26613008/">your ad here</a><div style="padding:0 10 10 10;"><script type="text/javascript">dap('&PG=NBCMSB&AP=1089','300','250');</script></div><hr noshade size="1"></div></div><a name="storyContinued" id="AdShowcase_F2"></a><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>Obama is promoting a recovery plan that would feature spending on roads and other infrastructure projects, energy-efficient government buildings, new and renovated schools and environmentally friendly technologies. </p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>There would also be some form of tax relief, according to the Obama team, which is well aware of the political difficulty of pushing such a large package through Congress, even in a time of recession. Any tax cuts would be aimed at middle- and lower-income taxpayers, and aides have said there would be no tax increases for wealthy Americans. </p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>While some economists consulted by Obama's team recommended spending of up to $1 trillion over two years, a more likely figure seems to be $850 billion. There is concern that a package that looks too large could worry financial markets, and the incoming economic team also wants to signal fiscal restraint. </p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>In addition to spending on roads, bridges and similar construction projects, Obama is expected to seek additional funds for numerous programs that experience increased demand when joblessness rises, one Democratic official said. </p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" align="right" style="padding:5 0 0 15;"><tr><td><span cm="AutoBox"><script>getCSS("3053751")</script><div style="width:300;" class="box_3053751 cbx cbx-auto" ct="abx" cn="Economy in Turmoil" pn=""><script></script><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxH_3053751"><tr><td width="*" nowrap class="boxHC_3053751"><div class="hauto textSmallBold"> Economy in Turmoil</div></td></tr></table><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxB_3053751"><tr valign="top"><td><div style="float:right;margin-left:10px;text-align:right;"><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28269487/" id="gted" ce="1"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540im_/http://msnbcmedia2.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/ArtAndPhoto-Fronts/BUSINESS/Projects/Economy_turmoil/EconomyInTurmoil-tz-std-dollar2.thumb.png" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="0"></a></div><div><div class="textHang" style="padding:5px;"><span class="textMed"><b><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28269487/" id="gted" ce="Highlight1">Curfew for Madoff as new condition of bail</a></b></span><br><span class="textMed">The judge in the fraud case of Wall Street money manager Bernard L. Madoff has set new conditions for his bail, including a curfew and an ankle-monitoring bracelet.</span></div></div><hr size="1" width="95%" align="center" color="#cccccc" style="clear:all"></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td class="boxBI_3053751"><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="headlineList2"><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28278398" title="Updated" class="icoUpd" name="icon_U" ic_cd="633651605170430000"> </a> <a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28278398/">Obama team considers $850 billion stimulus</a></span></div><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="headlineList2"><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28284857/">Fed’s rate cut won’t help most credit card users</a></span></div><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="headlineList2"><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28285195/">Obama reportedly decides on head of SEC</a></span></div><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="headlineList2"><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28269485/">Paulson sees financial situation stabilizing</a></span></div></td></tr></table></div></span></td></tr></table></p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>Among those programs are food vouchers and other nutrition programs, health insurance, unemployment insurance and job training programs. </p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>Obama advisers have been contacting economists from across the political spectrum in search of advice as they assemble a spending plan that would meet Obama's goal of preserving or creating 2.5 million jobs over two years. </p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>Among those whose opinions Obama sought were Lawrence B. Lindsey, a top economic adviser to President George W. Bush during his first term, and Harvard professor Martin Feldstein, an informal John McCain adviser and the chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers under President Ronald Reagan. </p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>Feldstein recommended a $400 billion investment in one year, Obama aides said, and Lindsey said the package should be in the range of $800 billion to $1 trillion. The aides revealed the discussions on condition of anonymity because no decisions had been reached. </p><div class="t1 f70 c666 p7"><span cm="PageNavBot"><a class="b" id="gted" ce="2" href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28278398/page/2/"> CONTINUED : 'We want to do it very quickly'</a><hr size="1"><div class="fL pS">1 | <a class="b" id="gted" ce="2" href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28278398/page/2/">2</a> | <a class="b" id="gted" ce="2" href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28278398/page/2/">Next ></a></div></span></div><br><div id="stryTools" class=""><ul><li class="discuss"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://www.newsvine.com/" title="Discuss this article on Newsvine" onclick="javascript:seedNewsvine('Obama team considers $850 billion stimulus','Eager to jolt a worsening economy back to life, President-elect Barack Obama\'s aides are assembling a two-year stimulus package that could cost $850 billion.','Washington,'); return false;">Discuss Story</a> <em>On Newsvine</em></li><li class="rate"><b>Rate Story:<br><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7468311/">View popular</a></b><em class="hl">Low</em><span class="hl" id="URplace"></span><em class="hl">High</em><br><em class="avg"><span id="userRatingTotal"></span><script>WriteRatings();</script></em></li><li class="email"><a href="javascript:emThis('28278398')" title="Email this story">Email</a></li><li class="im" id="imThis"><a href="javascript:IMThis('28278398')" title="Send this story with MSN Messenger">Instant Message</a></li><li class="print"><a href="javascript:printThis('28278398')" title="Print this story">Print</a></li></ul></div><img width="100%" height="0"><div class="cbx cbx-next" style="padding-top:20px"><script>getCSS("3053751")</script><div style="width:100%;" class="box_3053751"><script></script><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxH_3053751"><tr><td width="*" nowrap class="boxHC_3053751"><div class="hauto textSmallBold"> MORE FROM ECONOMY IN TURMOIL </div></td><td width="80%" class="boxH2C_3053751"><div class="textSmall"> </div></td></tr></table><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxB_3053751"><tr valign="top"><td><div style="width:100%;background-color:#ffffff;height:100%;"><div style="padding:10px;width:16%;height:100%;float:left;"><span id="StoryNextButton" cm="StoryNextButton"><a id="gted" ce="Economy in Turmoil" onmouseover="swapImage('next_links','/images/buttons/next/buttonNextOver.gif')" onmouseout="swapImage('next_links','/images/buttons/next/buttonNext.gif')" onmousedown="swapImage('next_links','/images/buttons/next/buttonNextDown.gif')" href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26843303/"><img src="/web/20081218065540im_/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/images/buttons/next/buttonNext.gif" border="0" width="53" height="19" id="next_links"></a></span></div><div id="nextText" class="w75p textMedBlackBold fL p11">Economy in Turmoil Section Front</div></div></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td class="boxBI_3053751"><span cm="StoryNextLink"><div id="nxtStry1" style="width:100%;height:18;"><div class="textHang nxtStryPd"><span class="headlineList2"><a class="linkBlack" href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28269487/" id="gted" ce="1">Curfew for Madoff as new condition of bail</a></span></div></div><div id="nxtStry2" style="width:100%;height:18;"><div class="textHang nxtStryPd"><span class="headlineList2"><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28278398" title="Updated" class="icoUpd" name="icon_U" ic_cd="633651605170430000"> </a> <a class="linkBlack" href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28278398/" id="gted" ce="2">Obama team considers $850 billion stimulus</a></span></div></div><div id="nxtStry3" style="width:100%;height:18;"><div class="textHang nxtStryPd"><span class="headlineList2"><a class="linkBlack" href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28284857/" id="gted" ce="3">Fed’s rate cut won’t help most credit card users</a></span></div></div><div id="nxtStry4" style="width:100%;height:18;"><div class="textHang nxtStryPd"><span class="headlineList2"><a class="linkBlack" href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28285195/" id="gted" ce="4">Obama reportedly decides on head of SEC</a></span></div></div><div id="nxtStry5" style="width:100%;height:18;"><div class="textHang nxtStryPd"><span class="headlineList2"><a class="linkBlack" href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28269485/" id="gted" ce="5">Paulson sees financial situation stabilizing</a></span></div></div><div id="nxtStry6" style="width:100%;height:18;"><div class="textHang nxtStryPd"><span class="headlineList2"><a class="linkBlack" href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28261511/" id="gted" ce="6">The Fed’s new zero-tolerance policy</a></span></div></div><div id="nxtStry7" style="width:100%;height:18;"><div class="textHang nxtStryPd"><span class="headlineList2"><a class="linkBlack" href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28283136/" id="gted" ce="7">Questions surround Madoff auditor</a></span></div></div><div id="nxtStry8" style="width:100%;height:18;"><div class="textHang nxtStryPd"><span class="headlineList2"><a class="linkBlack" href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28276052/" id="gted" ce="8">Consumers could benefit from Fed rate cut</a></span></div></div><div id="nxtStry9" style="width:100%;height:18;"><div class="textHang nxtStryPd"><span class="headlineList2"><a class="linkBlack" href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28277913/" id="gted" ce="9">Motorola to freeze pension plans, cut exec pay</a></span></div></div><div id="nxtStry10" style="width:100%;height:18;"><div class="textHang nxtStryPd"><span class="headlineList2"><a class="linkBlack" href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28268965/" id="gted" ce="10">Asia markets climb after U.S. rate cut</a></span></div></div></span><div style="width:100%;height:16;"><div class="textHang nxtStryPd"><span class="headlineList2"><a class="linkBlack" href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26843303/">Economy in Turmoil Section Front</a></span></div></div><span class="textSmall"> </span><div><span class="headlineList2">Add <span class="b">Economy in Turmoil</span> headlines to your news reader:</span></div><span class="textSmall"> </span><div style="float:left;"><script>MSNBC.RSS.showBtns("26843300","","3000001");</script></div></td></tr></table><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxF_3053751"><tr><td class="boxFI_3053751"><div class="textSmall"></div></td></tr></table></div><script>nextStory("/id/28269487/^Curfew for Madoff as new condition of bail|/id/28278398/^Obama team considers $850 billion stimulus|/id/28284857/^Fed’s rate cut won’t help most credit card users|/id/28285195/^Obama reportedly decides on head of SEC|/id/28269485/^Paulson sees financial situation stabilizing|/id/28261511/^The Fed’s new zero-tolerance policy|/id/28283136/^Questions surround Madoff auditor|/id/28276052/^Consumers could benefit from Fed rate cut|/id/28277913/^Motorola to freeze pension plans, cut exec pay|/id/28268965/^Asia markets climb after U.S. rate cut|");</script></div><div id="bbb" class="clr fL w464 dpn"><div id="bb3" class="fL w225 p15"><span cm=""><script>getCSS("3182775")</script><div style="width:100%;" class="box_3182775 cbx cbx-auto" ct="abx" cn="Top msnbc.com stories" pn=""><script></script><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxH_3182775"><tr><td width="*" nowrap class="boxHC_3182775"><div class="hauto textSmallBold"> Top msnbc.com stories</div></td></tr></table><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxB_3182775"><tr valign="top"><td class="boxBI_3182775"><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="headlineList2"><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28286206/">Fed cut sparks refinancing rush</a></span></div><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="headlineList2"><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28278398/">Obama mulls $850 billion stimulus</a></span></div><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="headlineList2"><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28285148/">Holiday travel expected to drop</a></span></div><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="headlineList2"><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28288616/">Report: Chrysler, GM revive talks</a></span></div><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="headlineList2"><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28283620/">Groups sue to stop drilling auction</a></span></div></td></tr></table></div></span></div><div id="bb4" class="fR w225 p15"><span cm=""><script>getCSS("3182775")</script><div style="width:100%;" class="box_3182775 cbx cbx-auto" ct="abx" cn="NBC News highlights" pn=""><script></script><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxH_3182775"><tr><td width="*" nowrap class="boxHC_3182775"><div class="hauto textSmallBold"> NBC News highlights</div></td></tr></table><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxB_3182775"><tr valign="top"><td class="boxBI_3182775"><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="headlineList2"><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28284679/">Seductive scent: Burger King's new fragrance</a></span></div><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="headlineList2"><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/#28285117">Aretha Franklin to headline inauguration</a></span></div><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="headlineList2"><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/#28285049">Caroline Kennedy makes her case</a></span></div><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="headlineList2"><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28271572/">Who is the new ‘Biggest Loser’?</a></span></div><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="headlineList2"><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/vp/28270511#28270511" title="Click to view video: "Web spoofs Pres. Bush, shoe-throwing"" class="icoVid"> </a> <a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/vp/28270511#28270511">Web spoofs Pres. Bush, shoe-throwing</a></span></div></td></tr></table></div></span></div></div><div class="w460 clr"> <div style="font-family : Verdana, Arial, Geneva, Helvetica, sans-serif;padding-top:15px;"> <script language="javascript" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540js_/http://context3.kanoodle.com/cgi-bin/context.cgi?id=78053631&db=context&query=*general_network&cgroup=biz&format=table&numresults=5&width=470&bordercolor=339933&fillcolor=FFFFFF&title=1&signup=1&newtarget=1&fontsize=10px&linkcolor=339933&titlecolor=339933&fontsize=11&textcolor=666666"></script></div> </div></div></div> <div id="substory"></div> </div><div id="Dcolumn"> <script type="text/javascript">  </script> <body> <div class="AdUnit" id="ad_unit"> </div><div id="dcol-resourceguide"><p class="dcol-hed">Resource guide</p> <div id="AdBrokerButton10_F1"><script type="text/javascript">dap('&PG=NBCRS9&AP=1025','120','30');</script><p><a target="_blank" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://www.creditreport.com/?src=msnbc&kwd=lntx2">Get Your 2008 Credit Score</a></p></div><div id="AdBrokerButton4_F1"><script type="text/javascript">dap('&PG=NBCRS3&AP=1025','120','30');</script><p><a target="_blank" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://www.entrepreneur.com/business-opportunities/index.html?cam=msnbc&cid=Resources&size=Oppfinder#msnbc" onclick="pd_onc('RESOURCE GUIDE', 'RESOURCE GUIDE', 'e', '0', 'Find a business to start', this);">Find a business to start</a><p></div><div id="AdBrokerButton9_F1"><script type="text/javascript">dap('&PG=NBCRS7&AP=1025','120','30');</script><p><script type="text/javascript">dap("&PG=NBCRD7&AP=1401",1,1)</script><p></div><div id="AdBrokerButton1_F1"><script type="text/javascript">dap('&PG=NBCRS5&AP=1025','120','30');</script><p> <script type="text/javascript">dap("&PG=NBCRD5&AP=1401",1,1)</script> <p></div><div id="AdBrokerButton8_F1"><script type="text/javascript">dap('&PG=NBCRS8&AP=1025','120','30');</script><p><a target="_blank" id="RGMonsterLink" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://clk.atdmt.com/MON/go/msnnkmon0950000202mon/direct/01/">Search Jobs</a><p></div><div id="AdBrokerButton2_F1"><script type="text/javascript">dap('&PG=NBCRS1&AP=1025','120','30');</script><p><a target="_blank" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://clk.atdmt.com/USE/go/msnnkhpg0100000001use/direct/01/" onclick="pd_onc('RESOURCE GUIDE', 'RESOURCE GUIDE', 'e', '0', 'Find Your Dream Home', this);">Find Your Dream Home</a></p></div><div id="AdBrokerButton6_F1"><script type="text/javascript">dap('&PG=NBCRS2&AP=1025','120','30');</script><p><a target="_blank" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;167837766;23040241;g?http://www.scottrade.com?id=1">$7 trades, no fee IRAs</a><p></div><div id="AdBrokerButton7_F1"><script type="text/javascript">dap('&PG=NBCRS4&AP=1025','120','30');</script><p><script type="text/javascript">dap("&PG=NBCRD4&AP=1401",1,1)</script><p></div><div id="msn-shopping"> <script type="text/javascript"> var showMSNAd = true; if(typeof(hideMSNad) != "undefined" && hideMSNad == "true") { showMSNAd = false; } if(showMSNAd) { var shopAdPG; if(shopAdPG==null){shopAdPG='NBCRET';} else{shopAdPG=shopAdPG;} dap('&PG=' + shopAdPG + '&AP=1164',120,240) } </script> </div></div><div id="dcol-skyscraper"><style>#dcol-skyscraper {display:none;}</style></div><div pcid="0" style="padding-bottom:20px;"> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540js_/http://business.msnbc.us.intellitxt.com/intellitxt/front.asp?ipid=7540"></script> </div></div></div></div><div id="bottomGradientIE" class="gradOff"></div><div id="footer"><div class="container"><div class="logo"><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/" title="msnbc.com home"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540im_/http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/Components/CSS/img/spacer.gif" alt="" height="75" width="140"></a></div><div class="links"><div class="listheader">Featuring</div><ul> <li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/">Today</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619">Nightly News</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032600">Dateline</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032608">Meet the Press</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3096434">MSNBC TV</a></li> <li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://newsweek.com/">Newsweek</a></li> </ul><div class="listheader">Categories</div> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/">Top stories</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3948437">Local news</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032525">U.S.</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032507">World</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032553">Politics</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032072">Business</a></li> <li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/3032113">Sports</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032084">Entertainment</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032076">Health</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032118">Tech & science</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032123">Travel</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032128">Weather</a></li> </ul><div class="listheader">About</div><ul> <li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21697053/welcome/">About us</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10285339/">Contact</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/html/HtmlSitemap0.html">Site map</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27365695/">Jobs</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3303540/">Terms & conditions</a></li> </ul></div><div class="divider"></div><div class="buttons"><div class="button btn-1"><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20712673/"> </a></div><div class="link"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://alerts.msnbc.com/">Alerts via IM</a></div><div class="button btn-2"><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7422001/"> </a></div><div class="link"><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7422001/">E-mail updates</a></div><div class="button btn-3"><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5216556/"> </a></div><div class="link"><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5216556/">RSS & feeds</a></div><br clear="all"><div class="button btn-4"><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16192026/"> </a></div><div class="link"><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16192026/">Mobile headlines</a></div><div class="button btn-5"><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8132577/"> </a></div><div class="link"><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8132577/">Podcasts</a></div><div class="button btn-6"><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21712546/"> </a></div><div class="link"><a href="/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21712546/">Widgets</a></div></div></div></div><div id="msnfooter"><div class="container"><ul><li>© 2008 Microsoft</li><li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://g.msn.com/0nwenus0/AE/20?SU=http://msnbc.msn.com/">MSN Privacy</a></li><li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://g.msn.com/0nwenus0/AE/18?SU=http://msnbc.msn.com/">Legal</a></li><li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://g.msn.com/0nwenus0/AE/19?SU=http://msnbc.msn.com/">Advertise</a></li></ul><ul id="rightlinks"><li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3303511/">Help</a></li></ul></div></div><div id="bottomGradient" class="gradOff"></div><script> adType=((typeof adType=='undefined')?"":adType); switch (adType){ case "DColStoryAd": microsoft_adunitid = "1489"; break; case "DColSubSectionAd": microsoft_adunitid = "1488"; break; case "FrontBottomAd": microsoft_adunitid = "1487"; break; default : microsoft_adunitid = "1489"; } </script> <script src="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540js_/http://adsyndication.msn.com/delivery/getads.js" type="text/javascript"> </script>  <script type="text/javascript" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540js_/http://business.msnbc.us.intellitxt.com/intellitxt/front.asp?ipid=7540"></script>   <script language="JavaScript">var tcdacmd="dt";</script> <script src="http://web.archive.org/web/20081218065540js_/http://an.tacoda.net/an/13015/slf.js" language="JavaScript"></script></body></html>