With Some GOP Support, Obama Says Small-Business Jobs Bill Likely To Pass
President Obama walks into the Rose Garden, where he urged Congress to pass a bill for middle-class tax cuts. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption
With new commitments of support from Sens. George Voinovich (R-OH) and George LeMieux (R-FL), President Obama said "we are finally on the verge of passing a small business-jobs bill that will cut taxes and provide loans for millions of small business owners across America."
In a statement at the White House, surrounded by Vice President Joe Biden and members of his economic team -- including Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, the president had criticized other Senate Republicans with selfishly obstructing legislation that, he said, would help the middle class.
Obama thanked Voinovich and LeMieux, saying "they understand that we simply don't have time anymore to play games."
He said he hopes congress will offer more support for another bill that would extend middle-class tax cuts.
"I understand there is an election coming up, but people didn't send us here to just think about our jobs," he said. "They sent us here to think about theirs. They sent us here to think about their lives and their children's lives."