The best sign that the economic engine is really repaired would be a joint plan by the White House and congressional Republicans to trim the federal budget deficit over the next 10 years. The elements of such a long-term recovery program are clear: reform and simplification of the tax code; cuts in entitlements programs; reduction in military spending to reflect a changing strategic environment. There is bipartisan support, in principle, for such moves, but in practice?
Leaving aside the merits of such things, how the hell would some random policy decisions be a "sign that the economic engine is really repaired." You can make the argument - wrongly - that cutting granny's social security is the best way to repair that engine (please rid us of car metaphors), but in what possible sense would Congress doing some stuff prove that the economy is all better?
And, you know, the "best sign" would be... some more fucking jobs and rising incomes.