WASHINGTON - U.S. President Barack Obama met with Republicans on Tuesday in an effort to win their support for the US$825 billion economic stimulus package he hopes will keep the United States from plunging even deeper into an already devastating recession.
In two hours of meetings at the Capitol, Obama attempted to convince wary Republicans that swift, bipartisan action was needed to rescue a frantically free-falling economy.
"I don't expect 100 per cent agreement from my Republican colleagues, but I do hope that we can all put politics aside and do the American people's business right now," Obama told the media in between separate meetings with House and Senate Republicans.
"The statistics every day underscore the urgency of the economic situation ... the American people expect action."
Shortly after the meeting, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the package's prospects were good.
"I think we will have Republican support for this bill," he said.
Obama's return to the Capitol on a snowy day exactly a week after his historic inauguration came amid grim economic news for Americans, with announcements of mass layoffs, soaring unemployment rates, sharp declines in house prices and darkening consumer confidence.
The president has been arguing for weeks that time is of the essence for the package, and that the flailing economy needs a lifeline now.
But Republicans have complained the bill is too tilted toward spending and doesn't contain enough tax relief. They voiced those concerns to Obama directly on Tuesday.
Congress is set to vote on the economic stimulus package on Wednesday. While the bill can potentially pass the Democratic-dominated House without Republican support, at least two Republicans will need to approve it for a filibuster-proof majority vote of 60.
The president was accompanied during his meetings with Republicans by Ray LaHood, the new transportation secretary who was once a Republican congressman.
John Boehner, the Republican House leader, said fundamental differences remained between the president and the GOP over how best to yank the economy out of its tailspin.
But he added they also agreed on several issues, and added Republicans were pleased that Obama came to the Capitol to consult with them at all.
"We both share a sincere belief that we have to have a plan that works, that will revive our economy, create jobs and help preserve jobs in our country," Boehner said.
"I think our members enjoyed the conversation. I think the president enjoyed the conversation. I look forward to continuing to work with him to improve this package."
Eric Cantor, the No. 2 Republican in the House, agreed.
"The most encouraging statement the president made today was the fact that he had no pride in authorship in this bill. We take that to mean tomorrow's vote is only the first step in the process, only the beginning."
Obama hopes to have the bill on his desk by mid-February to sign into law.
Top Republicans, including John McCain -- Obama's rival for the presidency who has since become one of his advisers -- have said that much of the spending contained in the bill is frivolous and will do nothing to jump-start the economy.
One of the measures already nuked from the bill in an effort to appease Republicans was family planning funds for low-income Americans. Republicans complained such spending would have no impact on stimulating the economy.
Among other measures that have raised Republican hackles is money earmarked for resodding the National Mall, the grassy swath of public parkland in D.C. that links the Capitol in the east to the Lincoln Memorial in the west.
Before Obama had even entered the building on Tuesday, Boehner and Cantor had urged the Republican rank and file to reject the bill unless significant alterations were made to eliminate wasteful spending.
During the meetings Tuesday in a basement conference room of the Capitol, several Republicans reportedly told the president they want the bill's tax cuts to take affect faster.
But the president replied that US$275 billion was the most he would be willing to negotiate on that front.
Some economists have pointed out that tax cuts in a time when people are losing their jobs won't necessarily stimulate the economy. Instead, people will save that money, not spend it.
