President Obama from the White House pressed lawmakers for “no games, no politics and no delays” in calling for a nearly $450 billion package of tax cuts and spending programs he will send to Congress Monday to spur job creation.
“There’s no reason not to pass this bill,” Obama said, insisting that his blueprint would “help the economy in a moment of national crisis.”
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Teachers, police officers, military veterans, small business owners and construction workers flanked Obama in the Rose Garden, as the president sought to convince a skeptical public that yet another jobs plan will get the economy moving again.
However, Republicans have been dubious of Obama’s pledge that the package would be completely paid for and have asked that the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office evaluate the final blueprint.
“It’s not going to add a dime to the deficit,” Obama said, adding that he would outline his plan to pay for the legislation and further bring down the debt during a speech next week.
Conservatives also argue that stimulus spending has been proven as an ineffective way to lower unemployment, which now sits at 9.1 percent.
Obama contends that his ideas, including an extension of a payroll tax cut and a surge in infrastructure spending, are moderate proposals that should be endorsed by Republicans.
The remarks kick off a publicity tour for the White House this week, with the president traveling to Columbus, Ohio on Tuesday and the Research Triangle in North Carolina on Wednesday to sell his jobs message.
