The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), better known as Obama’s stimulus, included many parts intended to save American jobs and prop up economic growth. Following standard Keynesian guidelines, the economic stimulus involved the federal government spending hundreds of billions of dollars to stimulate economic growth and consumer spending.

The stimulus was designed to attack the great recession of 2008 from all sides, and since President Obama had the support of a Democratic-controlled Senate and House of Representatives, he was able to get much of what he asked for and the final plan. it was largely the Obama Stimulus.

The economic stimulus included money that was divided among core categories that the president considered important. These included jobless relief, direct payments, infrastructure, health care, education, energy, homeland security, and law enforcement. Each of these categories was deemed essential to help move the economy forward.

With unemployment nearing 10% in 2009, it was essential to provide relief for the jobless, so the economic stimulus included billions to extend unemployment benefits through 2009 for those at risk of their benefits expiring. The bill also provided a $250 stimulus check for people with SSI and Social Security. These checks were a direct cash payment to those people.

Infrastructure spending has long been seen as a good way to get people to work fast and create an economic ripple effect across the country. The 2009 stimulus included nearly $50 billion for highway and bridge construction, public transportation, public housing projects, and clean drinking water projects.

In health care, the law provided a 65% COBRA subsidy for 9 months to apply to workers who had been laid off between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009. This, as well as the extension of unemployment benefits, was designed to help those who couldn’t find work in the deep recession.

The economic stimulus included more than $50 billion to prevent cuts to education across the country and secure teaching jobs. There was also money for school modernization programs, Pell Grants and Head Start. In addition, there were billions for clean energy programs, home weatherization programs, fossil fuel research, and other research and development.

For security, the law included billions for national security programs, including the modernization of airport control equipment and port security. There were also several billion for state and local governments to hire police officers and buy equipment.

In addition, the economic stimulus included many tax changes to lessen the burden on taxpayers and stimulate economic growth. These included new tax credits for wage earners, a solution to the alternative minimum tax, expanded child tax credits and college credits, and a robust home energy credit for those who upgraded their homes with newer, more energy-efficient equipment.

In all, Obama’s stimulus was designed to address the dire economic situation with a balance of spending programs and tax cuts that would revive the economy and, until that happens, provide a stronger safety net for Americans in need.