" Economists and politicians are finally waking up to what many of America's families already know: that we might be sliding into a recession," Clinton said in a statement.
" We need an immediate strategy to get our economy back on track. I would work with leaders from both parties to pass an aggressive, fast-acting stimulus package to create good new jobs and revitalize our economy."
Clinton's proposal came three days after she defied opinion polls to narrowly beat Democratic rival Barack Obama in the New Hampshire primary and as candidates head into more state-by-state contests to choose the party's nominee for the November presidential election.
Worry about a possible recession, the housing slump and rising energy prices has been growing and opinion polls show the economy has overtaken the war in Iraq as voters' number one concern ahead of the election.
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Thursday that the central bank may be ready to make " substantive" interest rate cuts to avoid recession. President George W. Bush also is considering an economic stimulus plan.
Clinton's plan would provide $30 billion for an emergency housing crisis fund for states to help low-income families unable to make mortgage payments; $25 billion to help low-income families pay their heating bills; $10 billion to extend unemployment insurance for people unable to find jobs; and $5 billion for alternative energy programs.
A $40 billion tax rebate package should also be prepared by the U.S. Congress for release to low-income and middle class workers if economic conditions in the country worsen, it said.
Reuters
Clinton proposes $70 billion economic stimulus
Seeking to take the lead on economic issues, Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton on Friday proposed a $70 billion emergency spending package to help victims of the U.S. housing crisis and stave off what she sees as a coming recession.







