Flanked by teachers, construction workers, and veterans, it almost looked as if President Obama was on the campaign stump. Instead, the location was the White House Rose Garden, where the president announced he was sending his jobs bill to Congress and urged it get passed quickly.

During the 20 minute speech, during which Obama was frequently interrupted by applause, the president urged Congress to keep politics out of it when it comes to passing the bill.

On Thursday, I told Congress I'd be sending them a bill called the American Jobs Act. Well here it is. This is a bill that will put people back to work all across the country, this is the bill that will help our economy in a moment of national crisis, this is a bill that is based on ideas from both Democrats and Republicans and this is the bill that Congress needs to pass. 10:58:49 No games. No politics. No delays. I'm sending this bill to Congress today and they ought to pass it immediately."

The president also said his bill will keep taxes down for the middle class:

The American Jobs Act would prevent taxes from going up for middle calss familises. If Congress does not act, just about every family in America will pay more taxes next year and that would be a self-inflicted wound that our economy jsut can't fford right now. So lets pass this bill and give the typical family a 1500 dollar tax cut instead.

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