Obama to Congress: 'Pass This Jobs Bill'
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President Barack Obama speaks Thursday evening to a joint session of Congress. Behind the president are Vice President Joe Biden, left, and House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio.
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WASHINGTON -- Mixing politically moderate proposals with a punchy tone, President Barack Obama challenged lawmakers Thursday to "pass this jobs bill" -- a blunt call on Congress to enact his $447 billion package of tax cuts and new government spending to revive a stalling economy as well as his own political standing.
Speaking to a joint session of Congress, Mr. Obama ticked off a list of measures that he emphasized had been supported by both Republicans and Democrats in the past. To keep the proposals from adding to the swelling federal deficit, Mr. Obama also said he would set his sights on a more ambitious target for long-term deficit reduction.
"You should pass this jobs plan right away," the president declared over and over in his 32-minute speech that eschewed his trademark oratory in favor of a plainspoken appeal for action -- and a few sarcastic jabs. With Republicans listening politely but stone-faced, Mr. Obama said, "The question is whether, in the face of an ongoing national crisis, we can stop the political circus and actually do something to help the economy."
Although Mr. Obama's proposals -- including an expansion of a cut in payroll taxes and new spending on public works -- were widely expected, the package was substantially larger than predicted, and much of the money would flow into the economic bloodstream in 2012. The pace would be similar to that of the $787 billion stimulus package passed in 2009, which was spread over more than two years. Analysts said that, if passed, the package would likely lift growth somewhat.
While Republicans did not often applaud Mr. Obama's plans, party leaders greeted his proposals with a degree of conciliation. "The proposals the president outlined tonight merit consideration," House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said in a statement. "We hope he gives serious consideration to our ideas as well."
President Barack Obama proposed injecting $447 billion into the economy through tax cuts and spending to rebuild infrastructure.
First Published September 9, 2011 12:00 am
