Obama jobs bill picks more than 90 House cosponsors

[ProSense]

Obama jobs bill picks more than 90 House cosponsors

By Mike Lillis

Following criticism from GOP leaders, House Democrats are rallying behind President Obama's $447 billion proposal to stimulate the economy and create jobs — even if it's not going anywhere.

More than 90 lower-chamber Democrats have officially endorsed the president's jobs bill in the past week – a stark jump over a short span that came after Democratic leaders welcomed members to sign on at the party's weekly caucus meeting last Tuesday.

Opening the bill to cosponsors marked a change in strategy for Democratic leaders, who initially had resisted endorsements to the legislation. Indeed, Rep. John Larson (Conn.), chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, was the only name tied to the measure for more than three weeks after he introduced it in September.

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Introduced in September, Obama's plan would cut taxes by roughly $270 billion – much of it through a reduction in payroll taxes for workers and businesses – while providing $175 billion for schools, roads and other infrastructure projects. The proposal also includes funding for the unemployed, as well as money to help states keep teachers, firefighters and other first responders on their payrolls.

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Sponsors: American Jobs Act of 2011