The stimulus package may be ill timed. This is the time for the Earned Income Credit (EIC) - which allows low incomers with children to get refunds of as high as approx $4,500. Note that this is above and beyond the refund they get for any fed taxes paid in - since they will not have any taxable income. After HR Block takes their $300+ cut for preparing the simple tax return and getting them a check in 24 hours - there is over 4000 left to stimulate the economy.
I say wait a few weeks to see if the EIC can single handedly lift us out of the doldrums!
Earned income tax credit - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia