Both President Bush and Obama attempted to stabilize the economy during the Great Recession of 2008. How did the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (EESA) passed under President Bush in 2008 differ from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) passed under President Obama in 2009? Responses The ARRA provided relief to struggling citizens in the form of tax breaks and unemployment benefits. The ARRA provided relief to struggling citizens in the form of tax breaks and unemployment benefits. The EESA attempted to put money directly into the economy by creating and saving jobs. The EESA attempted to put money directly into the economy by creating and saving jobs. The EESA was criticized for not being large enough to actually help the economy. The EESA was criticized for not being large enough to actually help the economy. The ARRA bailed out banks but did little to help average Americans struggling in the Great Recession. The ARRA bailed out banks but did little to help average Americans struggling in the Great Recession