White House warming to jobs-related legislation
WASHINGTON -- The White House says it's considering a host of legislative options to boost job creation. The chairwoman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers says the White House is open to supporting initiatives designed to help small businesses and increase spending on infrastructure. Christina Romer also says the White House supports extending jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed and subsidies for the unemployed to buy health insurance. At the same time, Romer said any new steps would have to have a relatively small deficit impact, saying the Obama administration will emphasize anything it does will "be done in a fiscally responsible way." Her comments come as President Barack Obama prepares for tomorrow's job forum. Obama plans to give a speech next week that will lay out ideas, including those that might arise out of the jobs summit. (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
