By Sarah Mupo -- February 9, 2010
President Obama expressed the need for quick-moving job growth legislation today during a meeting with a bipartisan delegation of congressional leaders.
An ideal job plan is not the immediate focus, Obama said, but rather "incremental steps" that could amount to greater changes in the future.
"Maybe that first package will build some trust and confidence that Democrats and Republicans in Congress can work together," Obama said.
Leading Republicans left the meeting with cautious optimism that a "small package" consensus could be reached to combat the current 9.7 percent unemployment rate.
The president stressed that he understands the parties will not fully get along on all parts of a job bill, but said he thinks there are some points on which an accord can be reached and action can be taken.
Obama and top Republicans still disagree on how to assess the current economic climate against increasing fears of rising budget deficits.
He also supports the idea of "vigorous debates" when an agreement cannot be reached between the two parties.
"Part of what we'd like to see is the ability of Congress to move forward in a more bipartisan fashion on some of the key challenges that the country is facing right now," Obama said at the beginning of today's meeting. "I think it's fair to say that the American people are frustrated with the lack of progress on some key issues."
Among the attendees of Tuesday's meeting were House Speaker Nancy
Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Minority Leader John
Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
The president is tentatively scheduled to meet with the same delegation on Feb. 25 to discuss health care reform.
