Q&A: U.S. Rep. Barney Frank

Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), chairman of the House Financial Services Committee.

Will the stimulus bill likely include any measures to address rising energy costs?
We might put some money into fuel assistance and helping people pay their energy bills. But there's nothing you can do about the cost of energy that would have a short-term effect.

Will the proposal include any kind of reduction in property taxes?
That's why you help the states. You're right, it's a big problem. States and then cities are being hurt by the lack of revenues—it's a major justification for increasing the aid to states. And the easiest way to do that is to increase the Medicaid share.

What do we know from previous stimulus packages? What's worked, what hasn't?
Getting the money out quickly works. The more likely it is to be spent, the better. The people in the lower or middle-class brackets are more likely to spend it.

Some Republicans are worried about how the government will pay for this stimulus package.
It will cost less than one third of this year's war in Iraq. Why don't they worry about paying for the war in Iraq?