Prez adviser: Gov't. not overwhelmed by bad economy

[March 11, 2009]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- A key economics adviser to President Barack Obama says the administration is moving methodically to restore American business health and denies that it's juggling too many things at once.

Christina Romer, who heads the White House Council of Economic Advisers, also said Obama has communicated clearly that attacking the deep recession is his top priority.

Interviewed Wednesday on NBC's "Today" show, Romer did acknowledge that "inherently, the response is complicated." But she said the administration has "rolled out" many specific strategies, including the plan to reduce home foreclosures and the current "stress test" to determine the capital needs of troubled banks.

Romer added that if, for instance, people can lower their house payments, the additional available cash will help "put their friends back to work."

[Associated Press]

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