January 28, 2008 State of the Union will focus on economy Play video

(NECN\ABC) - When President Bush steps before both houses of Congress Monday night he's expected to say little about the past 7 years - leaving that to the historians - and, instead, focus on the present and future.

When the Democratic leadership gave their own version of the state of the Union at the National Press Club on Friday, the one area where they didn't Disagree with the President was on the economic stimulus package...the Proposal to provide tax rebates to 117 million families and give businesses $50 billion in incentives.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-CA: "Any day of the week Democrats stand proudly in support of tax cuts for the Middle class. It's part of our agenda." Edward Lezear, Ch, Council of Economic Advisors: "Economics is on the mind of the American people right now. The President's quite aware of that."

Edward Lezear is one of the president's chief economic advisors. He says the President will call for fast action on the stimulus package.

LEZEAR: "We hope it will be implemented quickly. I'm sure the President Will call for that in the State of the Union."

Key Democrats seem to appreciate that the American people want to see the plan get done.

Hillary Clinton: “The State of the Union is really about the state of Americans' lives. It's about whether or not we're gonna be able to avoid a long and deep recession”

The President and House leaders - Democrats and Republicans - have agreed to the plan,

And, therein lies the danger, as the Administration sees it. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson says any tinkering with the package now, could mean It's demise:

PAULSON: Once you start adding things, it's a slippery Slope, and the process could quickly bog down and screech to a stop here.

ABC’s Liz Marlantes reports.