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Congress' swift approval of a $168 billion economic stimulus package sends a strong signal to worried consumers and wobbly financial markets that the federal government is capable of taking swift action when it feels it has to.

The plan will provide tax rebates of up to $600 for individuals and $1,200 for couples, with additional payments of $300 per child for families and a minimum payment of $300 for people who pay less than that in income taxes. …

While the stimulus package will not be a magic bullet that will reverse the looming economic downturn the country is facing, it will provide a one-time injection of cash into the economy, as consumers spend their rebate checks and businesses take advantage of the added tax incentives and write-offs. And after the acrimony of the past several years in Congress, it was indeed a good time for lawmakers to undertake a successful bipartisan effort.