A NJTC is a nice idea, however actions designed to shore up the financial markets would be necessary regardless. The $700,000,000,000 stimulus is only a small part of the picture. It included highway funding that should have been passed anyway - as well as enough extra cash to subsidize my Starbucks habit. The big cash has nothing to do with taxpayers and its not about jobs per se, but about doing what is necessary to keep the economy from collapsing. If the credit markets are in collapse, a NJTC won't help. Once the storm passes - which will happen after the Arm-A mortgages all reset (although the current low rates will delay the pain) - the need for a chunk of money for bailouts will be over and the Treasury can avoid a few bond auctions. Most of the bailout bonding backs other securities that are of dubious worth now, but will likely eventually be paid back. When that happens, the taxpayers are no worse for wear. One of my complaints are that there are some assets that should be written off the books now so that the underlying property can be disposed of - there are tracts of both Cleveland and Detroit - and California as well - that need to be razed and returned to open space. You can't do that if you are committed to not taking a loss.