Axelrod: Stimulus will help save jobs

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 (UPI) -- It will not be long before Americans see the positive effects of the economic stimulus package just passed by Congress, a White House adviser said Sunday.

In an appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press" program, David Axelrod said fruits of the $787 billion program will be seen as work begins on infrastructure improvements across the nation.

"We believe that in the next couple of years that it will create 3.5 million jobs. That's going to be very important," he said. "We're also going to prevent the layoff of key personnel of states, like teachers, police (and) firefighters."

Axelrod acknowledged it likely will take some time for the effects of the stimulus to be seen in employment statistics. He also warned the U.S. economy likely will worsen before it improves.

"The president has said it's likely to get worse before it gets better. It is true that without this program it could be much, much worse," Axelrod said on the "Fox News Sunday" program.

"And so I don't expect the arrow to bend down by the end of the year, but I do expect the rise in unemployment to be retarded by the things that were done this week."