By IBTimes Staff Reporter: Subscribe to IBTimes's RSS feed
September 8, 2011 7:39 PM EDT
In a joint-session address Thursday, President Barack Obama said the United States faces a "national crisis" and pressed Congress to urgently pass a jobs package of tax cuts and government spending he is proposing to revive the stalled U.S. economy.
The cost of Obama's plan would be $447 billion, a Senate Democratic aide told Reuters.
With his poll numbers at new lows amid voter frustration with 9.1 percent unemployment, Obama was poised to use a high-stakes address to Congress to pitch a sweeping economic plan that is critical to his re-election chances but he faces an uphill fight with Republicans.
"It will provide a jolt to an economy that has stalled and give companies confidence that if they invest and hire there will be customers for their products and services. You should pass this jobs plan right away," Obama said.
"Those of us here tonight cannot solve all of our nation's woes. Ultimately, our recovery will be driven not by Washington, but by our businesses and our workers. But we can help. We can make a difference. There are steps we can take right now to improve people's lives," Obama said.
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"I am sending this Congress a plan that you should pass right away. It's called the American Jobs Act. There should be nothing controversial about this piece of legislation. Everything in here is the kind of proposal that's been supported by both Democrats and Republicans - including many who sit here tonight. And everything in this bill will be paid for. Everything," Obama said.
Taking aim at Republicans who have consistently opposed his initiatives, Obama said it was time to "stop the political circus and actually do something to help the economy."
Obama, who won Congressional approval of a $800 billion economic stimulus package in 2009, said his jobs plan would cut taxes for workers and businesses and put more construction workers and teachers on the job through infrastructure projects.
"It will provide a tax break for companies who hire new workers and it will cut payroll taxes in half for every working American and every small business," he said.
Wants "American Jobs Act" Passed in 2011
Obama wants Congress to pass his "American Jobs Act" by the end of this year. But that may be hard to achieve with politicians already focusing on the presidential and congressional elections in November 2012.
"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," Obama added. "And the American Jobs Act will not add to the deficit. It will be paid for."
If Obama can push through his plan, it might provide an economic boost quickly enough for him to reap political benefits. If it stalls in a divided Congress, his strategy will be to blame Republicans for obstructing the economic recovery.
Obama is making payroll tax relief for workers and their employers the centerpiece of his package. He is also proposing further jobless benefits and new investment to rebuild roads, bridges and other crumbling infrastructure plus help states to prevent further layoffs.
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