NEW YORK (AP)
-- Mayor Michael Bloomberg ridiculed the federal government's rebate
checks as being ``like giving a drink to an alcoholic'' on Thursday,
and said the presidential candidates are looking for easy solutions to
complex economic problems.
The billionaire and potential independent presidential candidate
also said the nation ``has a balance sheet that's starting to look more
and more like a third-world country.''
President Bush signed legislation Wednesday that will result in cash
rebates ranging from $300 to $1,200 for more than 130 million people.
The federal checks are the centerpiece of the government's emergency
effort to stimulate the economy, under the theory that most people will
spend the money right away.
But Bloomberg does not believe it will do much good. And his harsh
words at a news conference Thursday reflect the view among some of his
associates that the country's economic woes present a unique
opportunity for him to launch a third-party bid for the White House.
The theory among those urging him to run for president is that a
businessman who rose from Wall Street to build his own financial
information empire might be particularly appealing as the fiscal crisis
worsens.
Publicly, Bloomberg says he is ``not a candidate,'' and explained
recently he is speaking out on national issues as part of an
``experiment'' to influence the dialogue in the race.
His tirade against the candidates and the economic stimulus package
on Thursday began when he was asked how that experiment is going.
In his answer, he praised Democrat Barack Obama for the plan the
Illinois senator outlined on Wednesday that would create a National
Infrastructure Reinvestment Bank to rebuild highways, bridges, airports
and other public projects. Obama projects it could generate nearly 2
million jobs.
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