Obama urges Congress to pass tax cut deal
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U.S. President Barack Obama called for Congress to pass his tax-cut agreement with Republicans in order to strengthen economic recovery and create jobs.
"Our recovery will be strengthened or weakened based on the choice that now rests with Congress," Obama said in his radio and Internet address on Saturday. "I strongly urge members of both parties to pass this plan."
He acknowledged that the tax deal is far from perfect but a good deal overall for Americans.
Obama announced on Monday evening that the White House and Republicans had reached a compromise that would extend the soon-to- expire Bush-era tax cuts at all income levels for another two years, while extending emergency jobless benefits through 2011.
The framework agreement had sparked criticism from some congressional Democratic leaders over the past days, who believed that Obama did not fight hard enough and his conciliatory moves gave an olive branch to the GOP too quickly.
Democratic lawmakers oppose to extend tax cut for the wealthiest Americans, a content in the plan that Republicans support.
Obama said that it was understandable that many fellow Democrats are not happy about what he negotiated with the GOP.
"I recognize that many of my friends in my own party are uncomfortable with some of what's in this agreement, in particular the temporary tax cuts for the wealthy. And I share their concerns, " Obama said.
But "we cannot allow the middle class in this country to be caught in the political crossfire of Washington," he said. "People want us to find solutions, not score points."
He said he was confident that Congress, where voting is expected to begin on the measure next week, "will do the right thing."
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