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STORY: On Wednesday, President George W. Bush signed into law what's called the "Jobs and Growth Package of 2003." It's the nation's third largest tax cut ever. According to Bush and many high-level Republicans in Congress, the $350 billion package is intended to stimulate the economy through tax cuts. A main rallying-cry from supporters has been how the plan will help small business owners. Craig MacDonald is a small landscape architecture business owner who only has one employee - himself. MacDonald recently got a phone call from the offices of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, which tried to solicit his support for the stimulus package in exchange for an advisory role to Congress as a "small business leader." MacDonald is a KPFT News listener who is skeptical, to say the least, about Republican DeLay's motives: "The only thing that I want to see Tom DeLay is out of office and in jail. And that kind of ended our conversation." Among other things, the new tax law gives small businesses what is being called a "depreciation break." This break will enable them to write off on their taxes fixed assets - i.e. equipment - that they buy for work at a more accelerated rate as it ages. Assistant Regional Director for UH Small Business Development Center James Evans explains depreciation: "Depreciation allows companies to write down the value of their fixed assets at an accelerated rate. And of course the higher your expenses, then that reduces your net income, and that in turn reduces your tax liability." How could this help spur the economy? Evans explains: "So a lot of small businesses that need fixed assets will go out and buy a number of fixed assets and then write down those assets at an accelerated rate, which will reduce their overall tax liability. For those small business that use a lot of fixed assets, it's going to work out well" But it won't help MacDonald, the landscape architect. He explains why not: "I don't have a big outlay for cash for my business, I don't have to buy equipment for it. So it certainly isn't going to help me! And also if you analyze what the definition of a small business is, I think you might be a little bit surprised." According to Evans at the UH Small Business Center, the definition of a small business depends on the industry - but for manufacturers, a company can employ 100 people as long as its revenues don't exceed $5 million. Brandon Moeller, KPFT News, Houston. [KPFT News Co-Producer Renee Feltz recorded the interviews for this story.] E-mail Brandon Moeller at brandonmoeller@hotmail.com . This story was broadcast on May 30, 2003.