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February 9, 2009

Obama Takes Campaign for Economic Recovery Plan to US Public
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=222B597:A6F02AD83191E1602EF6A02A743B1B407F0EB4B66EA3A89D&
 
US president to participate in town hall meeting, hold first prime time
news conference Monday, to promote $800 billion spending, tax cut plan 

Watch Live Coverage of President Obama's Press Conference tonight 8:00
pm

President Barack Obama U.S. President Barack Obama will try to boost
public support for his
economic stimulus plan Monday, with a campaign-style event and a
national television appearance. Mr. Obama begins his day by
speaking to residents of Elkhart, Indiana, at a town-hall meeting.
Elkhart is a manufacturing center that has seen its unemployment rate
surge to 15 percent from five percent a year ago. Later, the
president holds his first prime time news conference at the White
House, giving him an opportunity to promote his $800 billion spending
and tax cut plan to a national audience. The U.S. Senate is
expected to end debate Monday, on an economic recovery bill, clearing
the way for a final vote by Tuesday. Senate leaders expect the plan to
pass with votes from majority Democrats and a handful of Republicans.
Most Republicans oppose the measure, saying the bill is too costly and
should include more tax cuts. The
House of Representatives has already passed a version of the stimulus
plan. Once the Senate approves its version, both houses of Congress
must negotiate a single bill before the president can sign it into law.
President Obama has said the stimulus is needed to avert a deeper
recession, and he wants a bill on his desk by February 16.On
Tuesday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner is scheduled to
announce how the administration plans to spend $350 billion approved
last year to shore up U.S. financial institutions. Geithner's
presentation was originally set for Monday, but it was moved to Tuesday
to allow the administration to focus on the stimulus vote in the Senate.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.


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