Obama Challenges Congress on Job Plan

Mixing politically moderate proposals with a punchy tone, President Obama challenged lawmakers on Thursday to “pass this jobs bill” — a blunt call on Congress to enact his $447 billion package of tax cuts and new government spending, designed to revive a stalling economy and 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 encourage a more ambitious target for long-term reduction of the deficit. I think we already know what made America great. What we needed tonight wasn't a campaign speech—we needed a plan, with specifics, about how to restore this nation to greatness. A specific plan about how to create jobs and return manufacturing to this country was what I was hoping for. I didn't hear a plan. All I heard was a new three word slogan. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/09/us/politics/09payroll.htmlscp=9&sq=obama%20speech&st=cse