U.S.' Paulson-stimulus to create up to 600,000 jobs

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said on Friday that an economic stimulus program that will put $168 billion into consumers' hands this year and next could help create hundreds of thousands of new jobs.

"We know they're going to be helpful," Paulson said on CNN television. "These checks should be a big part of adding 500,000 to 600,000 additional jobs this year."

Some 130 million Americans are to get tax rebate checks up to about $600 for individuals and $1,200 for couples, with the first of the checks to start flowing in early May.

On other issues, Paulson said it was important to maintain stable, orderly financial markets and said the Treasury was trying to help mortgage-holders who are in difficulty voluntarily work out repayment options with lenders.

(Reporting by Glenn Somerville; Editing by Andrea Ricci)