Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell proposed a one-time tax rebate up to $400 for more than 475,000 lower-income working families. Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich wants to give families tax breaks by selling off sources of future revenue, such as the state's share of the nationwide settlement with tobacco companies.
In Connecticut, some lawmakers want to send rebate checks of $50 to $290 to 1 million taxpayers. Legislators are also considering rental and heating assistance for needy families and a new revolving-loan fund to ease the subprime mortgage mess.