Obama to Congress: 'Stop the political circus'

Washington – Republican lawmakers sat stone-faced as President Obama told them 17 times in 33 minutes to pass a $447 billion jobs package.

“The question is whether in the face of an ongoing national crisis, we can stop the political circus and actually do something to help the economy,” the President said.

The jobs package includes a $50 billion transportation improvement program and a $10 billion seed capital contribution to a public-private “infrastructure bank” designed to raise money for highway and mass transit improvements through government guaranteed loans.

Following the depressing news that no new jobs were created during the month of August, the President underscored his message by saying, “It will provide a jolt to an economy that has stalled, and give companies confidence that if they invest and hire, there will be customers for their products and services," he said. "You should pass this jobs plan right away."

Though House Speaker John Boehner chose not to stage a Republican response to the presidential message, he commented by saying, “It's my hope that we can work together to end the uncertainty facing families and small businesses, and create a better environment for long-term economic growth and private-sector job creation."

The diplomatic tone of his prepared statement was in sharp contrast to those of most conservative members of the House and Senate, who noted that in their opinion, government deficit spending is what has put the national economy in a tailspin.

Texas' 17th District Congressman Bill Flores used a harsher tone in his description of the President's jobs plan.

"So-called government stimulus spending only wastes hard-earned taxpayer dollars. The private sector needs certainty to invest in people, property and equipment...

"For eight months, House Republicans have continued to focus on a common-sense, private sector blueprint for job creation and economic growth. In our "Plan for America’s Job Creators" we are pressing for comprehensive tax reform to improve American competitiveness, significant cuts in federal spending, an improved regulatory environment in Washington and a comprehensive energy policy in order to restore the confidence needed for small businesses and entrepreneurs to invest in our economy."