Tax incentives for businesses included in the $858 billion tax bill are hoped to be a stimulus for growth. Some companies say that the tax incentives will help them to invest in new machinery and create new jobs. The bill includes tax breaks, an extension of research and development credit, and money for accelerated depreciation. However, some economists are hesitant to say that the tax incentives will have a large effect on the economy, saying that the problem is more the lack of demand from consumers, something that tax breaks will not fix. The White House says that they believe the measures will help stimulate the economy, and that they are trying to create a new strategy to create jobs.
See "Tax Breaks Bring Hope for Hiring", David Kocieniewski, The New York Times, December 13, 2010