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CNN Live At Daybreak

Tax Rebate Check Almost in the Mail

Aired July 20, 2001 - 07:24   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: That federal government tax rebate you've been waiting for is being printed. And, as they say, the check's in the mail -- almost.

CNN's Jeff Flock is in Kansas City this morning at one of five locations where the refund checks are being printed -- good morning, Jeff.

JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Carol.

You know, I learned this morning, it's actually eight locations around the country. And they are hard at work here this morning. This is that building behind. It may not look like much. It's sort of a nondescript warehouse-like building. But they are very, very busy on the inside -- and will be for the next several weeks.

In this location so far, 492,000 checks so far have been printed. Today is the day that, before they're done, they'll be able to say: Your check is in the mail. We've got a camera placed inside there back amongst the machinery.

Jack Adams, who is the man who directs this facility, what is that machine back there getting ready to do?

JACK ADAMS, REGIONAL DIRECTOR: It's going to wrap the checks. It's going to wrap them around and put my signature on them and get them ready to mail out.

FLOCK: Now, you've already got the first wave totally printed.

ADAMS: Yes, 692,000.

FLOCK: I said 492,000 -- 692,000.

ADAMS: I know you did -- 692,000, right.

FLOCK: Thanks for correcting me.

ADAMS: That's OK.

FLOCK: Now, how you getting this done? What are you typically doing now? What are these folks and workers doing -- just working harder? What's the deal?

ADAMS: They're working harder and more efficient. We have no overtime to do this.

FLOCK: Now, I understand the government is spending about an extra $49 million, $50 million on just getting this done. But what's the majority of that cost?

ADAMS: It's postage. And I might say that we are presorting these. And so we're getting the postage average around 27 cents. So we're saving the government in that way as well.

FLOCK: So you expect this to all come off on schedule by the time it's done, correct?

ADAMS: Absolutely -- all 10 weeks.

FLOCK: And do you have any idea how many in this facility alone that you will print before you're done?

ADAMS: We're going to print about 11 million here.

FLOCK: Wow. And it's about 100 million, 90 million -- between 90 and 100 million the government is going to do, period?

ADAMS: That's what I understand.

FLOCK: Now, Carol, I've got to point out that the federal government has been extraordinarily helpful in their coverage of this -- helping our coverage of this.

And you're eager to get the word out, is that correct? Vice President Cheney has said it himself.

ADAMS: I am absolutely. I think it's great and a great effort that -- infuse more money into our government and into our economy.

FLOCK: Wonderful.

Jack Adams, I appreciate the time. Sir, thank you so much.

ADAMS: My pleasure.

FLOCK: Appreciate it.

We'll be here throughout the day watching this. Vice President Cheney will be here today -- President Bush himself via satellite. As we said, they try to bring as much attention to this -- Vice President Cheney himself saying that he felt as though it was very important to get the word out people know that they've got money coming back into their pockets.

And this is where it all starts here. We've got -- next hour, we'll be live inside with the checks stacked up -- a large number of boxes where you'll see about to go in the mail.

We'll see if yours is here, Carol -- back to you.

LIN: That's right. Would you look for Colleen and my name as well? Yes.

Thanks, Jeff.

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