by Lacey Penner
Staff Writer

Despite fervent protesting from President Bush, it’s clear the economy of the United States is headed in the direction of a recession. With skyrocketing gas prices and the dollar’s dwindling power, it's imperative that the next leader of the free world has a handle on how to reverse an economic freefall. So what do the two remaining candidates have to say about it?

Barack Obama
"We are all in this together. From CEOs to shareholders, from financiers to factory workers, we all have a stake in each other's success because the more Americans prosper, the more America prospers," said Obama. To put this sentiment into effect, Obama intends to provide a tax cut for working families, via a "Making Work Pay" tax credit of up to $500 per person, or $1,000 per working family. This means that 10 million Americans will have their income taxes completely eliminated. He also is an advocate of fair trade, job creation, and an investment in U.S. manufacturing.

Hillary Clinton
Clinton unveiled her $70 billion plan to stimulate the U.S. economy last January. The plan would try to bring down the rate of foreclosure in the U.S. by establishing a $30 billion Emergency Housing Crisis Fund, which would assist states and cities in mitigating the effects of foreclosures, as well as attempting to end the housing crisis.

“It’s time to help people facing foreclosure,” said Clinton, “don’t just bail out banks.”

The plan would also include $25 billion in emergency energy assistance, and $10 billion in extended unemployment insurance.

John McCain
McCain believes that the economy is directly dependent on the environment, as the country depends “greatly upon the sustainable use of ample and unspoiled natural resources.”

He also intends to cut the corporate tax rate from 35 to 25 percent and allow a firstyear deduction of equipment and technology investments.

It will “reward investments in cutting edge technologies,” he said.