Obama unveils $300bn back-to-work plan

FACING a frustrated public and a sceptical Congress, US President Barack Obama last night pitched at least $300 billion (€215bn) in jobs proposals aimed at getting Americans back to work quickly, forcing Republicans to take a share of the responsibility for solving the country’s economic woes.

His underlying political strategy was simple: if Obama cannot get his ideas passed heading into his re-election year, he would try to co-opt the anger of Americans to punish Republicans at the polls if they kill the jobs plan.

In a rare speech to a joint session of Congress late last night, Obama was expected to offer a package of ideas that would affect people in their daily lives — tax relief, unemployment insurance, spending to support construction jobs and aid to states to keep people in jobs. Businesses would get their own tax breaks. And he was to promise a long-term plan to pay for it all.