WASHINGTON - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will convene a forum here Monday to launch the development of a second economic stimulus package.
The California Democrat said leading economists will participate in the meeting but did not provide names of those slated to participate.
The speaker called the package an "economic recovery plan" intended to create jobs and strengthen the economy. The announcement suggested that the plan will include funding for transportation infrastructure, health care, education, public safety, unemployment benefits, and food stamps.
"Just as the president and Congress worked together in recent weeks on an economic rescue plan to help bring stability to our financial markets, we must now take additional action and pass a jobs creation and economic recovery stimulus plan," Pelosi said in a statement.
The House passed a stimulus package that included $12.8 billion for highway infrastructure, $600 million for airport construction, $6.5 billion for the clean water state revolving fund, and $1 billion for the drinking water state revolving fund.
But the measure was never sent to the Senate and companion legislation in that chamber failed, mostly due to Republican opposition. President Bush has previously threatened to veto a stimulus bill.
