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FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Millions of Americans will soon start seeing a little extra in their paycheck. It's all part of that massive economic stimulus plan that the president signed into law last month.
President Obama has asked all employers to adjust their payroll systems by tomorrow so eligible workers can start receiving the "Making Work Pay" tax credit in their paychecks.
If paid weekly, single people eligible for the tax credit might get between $10 and $15 per paycheck; and married couples could see $15 to $20. In total, that comes out to as much as $400 a year for single filers and $800 for joint filers.
The full amount will be paid to people making less than $75,000 a year; or $150,000 for couples. There were will also be partial credits for people making more than that; but no more than $95,000 per person or $190,000 per couple. The credit is also refundable, which means that even poor families who don't make enough to pay income tax will still be able to claim it.
$10 or $20 a week isn't AIG bonus money; but for lots of folks it just might make the difference between being able to make that mortgage payment or not next month.
Here's my question to you: How will the stimulus bonus affect your life?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Here's something to think about:
How many police officers and sheriff's deputies are involved in investigating and solving crimes involving illegal drugs? And arresting and transporting and interrogating and jailing the suspects?
Cafferty: People will use this stuff whether it's legal or not.
How many prosecutors and their staffs spend time prosecuting drug cases? How many defense lawyers spend their time defending drug suspects?
How many hours of courtroom time are devoted to drug trials? How many judges, bailiffs, courtroom security officers, stenographers, etc., spend their time on drug trials?
How many prison cells are filled with drug offenders? And how many corrections officers does it take to guard them? How much food do these convicts consume?
And when they get out, how many parole and probation officers does it take to supervise their release? And how many ex-offenders turn right around and do it again?
So how's this war on drugs going?
To read Jack's entire CNN.com commentary, click here
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