Seattle Courant Archive

Obama Message, It's Time For Action, Now Throw a House Party

Obama Message, It's Time For Action, Now Throw a House Party

By Jeanette Brown
February 04, 2009

In the e-mail, Obama asked Seattleites to actively participate by joining Americans across the country in throwing an "economic recovery house meeting" this weekend to gain support for his economic recovery plan.

Last week, a $819 billion version of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed the House along straight party lines, without a single Republican voting for it.

However, the President said his recovery plan will serve to jump start the economy, putting approximately four million people back to work. He has asked for quick action from the Senate to pass the bill.

Some GOP legislators assert that President Obama’s plan is too expensive and doesn’t include enough tax cuts. However, Gov. Jim Douglas, the Republican vice chairman of the National Governors Association, is among several members of his party who are breaking with their colleagues in Congress to ask for approval of the president’s plan. Douglas was recently in Washington, D.C. lobbying for its passage.

In Monday's e-mail, Obama wrote that, "It’s not enough for this bill to simply pass Congress. Americans need to know that help is on the way and that this administration is investing in economic growth and stability."

The bill, which was first touted as a stimulus package is now being called an economic recovery plan.

President Obama hopes that he can gain the necessary public support by convincing enough people to host or attend an economic recovery house meeting this coming week-end.

As of Tuesday, five meetings have been scheduled in Seattle, according to Obama's Web site.

To learn more about this weekend's meetings, click here