President Obama

Obama Live September 8 2011 pushes Congress to act now on economy - politics - White House WASHINGTON — Calling it an "urgent time for our country," President Barack Obama asked Congress on Thursday night to "stop the political circus" and approve a nearly half-trillion-dollar plan to help the economy by cutting payroll taxes, raising taxes on the wealthy and rewarding companies that hire new workers. "We continue to face an economic crisis that has left millions of our neighbors jobless and a political crisis that has made things worse," Obama said in an address to a joint session of Congress. To answer that crisis, Obama was proposing what he called the American Jobs Act, which he said would cut payroll taxes in half for working Americans and most small businesses; boost spending on public works, like roads, by 5 billion; and make permanent a temporary cut in the individual tax rate, which was reduced from 6.2 percent to 4.2 percent for this year only. 1. Other political news of note 1. First Read: The CBO and short-term fixes The Congressional Budget Office released a report in January that looks at some of the short-term policies the president might ask Congress to enact in his speech Thursday night. 2. Analysis: Perry takes the heat but keeps on smiling 3. Perry's Merck link in spotlight following vaccine order 4. Payroll tax cut likely hub of Obama's jobs plan 5. Congressional debt reduction panel kicks off Obama calculated that the "typical working family" would ...

President Obama emphasizes the importance of compromise and shared sacrifice so that we can overcome our fiscal challenges and get our economy on a stronger footing going forward.

The President touts the new benefits coming from the tax cut compromise for any business large or small, tens of millions of workers and families, and the economy itself.

The President signs the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010, providing tax cuts and unemployment insurance extensions to help middle-class families. December 17, 2010.

The President signs the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010, providing tax cuts and unemployment insurance extensions to help middle-class families. December 17, 2010.

President Obama introduces President Clinton who speaks to the press about his support for the President's framework agreement to extends tax cuts for all Americans and extend unemployment benefits. December 10, 2010.

The President makes a statement to the press after reaching an agreement with Congress to extend tax cuts for all Americans while also extending unemployment benefits to help those looking for work. December 6, 2010.

President Obama lays out his priorities for the coming discussion about tax cuts.

Welcome to the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that's happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Walk step by step with the President as he signs the Small Business Jobs Act, speaks to college journalists, holds backyard discussions about the economy with area families across the heartland and much more...

President Obama signs into law measures that hold government accountable for responsible use of taxpayer dollars and cut down on waste, fraud and abuse. July 22, 2010.