Obama lays out $450 billion jobs package

President Obama urged Congress on Thursday to support a nearly $450 billion package of jobs proposals, including an extension of jobless benefits and a payroll tax cut, tax breaks for companies that hire veterans or the long-term unemployed, new spending on infrastructure projects and additional federal aid to local governments.

Noting that the economy has “stalled,” Obama declared, “This isn’t political grandstanding. This isn’t class warfare. This is simple math. … And it’s time for us to do what’s right for our future.”