With the national unemployment rate stuck at 9.1 percent and a growing number of economists saying the economy could be sliding into a double-dip recession, President Obama’s address to Congress on Thursday could be one of the most important speeches of his presidency.

Obama is expected to use his address to lay out a plan — estimated to cost at least $300 billion — that would stimulate the economy by extending payroll tax cuts and jobless benefits, increasing spending on infrastructure projects and funneling more federal aid to state and local governments.

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