Obama Says His Plan With Tax Cuts to Get Quick OK

The rest would go toward job-creation projects such as roads and bridges and toward long-term goals such as alternative energy programs.

President-elect Barack Obama is greeted by Air Force personnel after arriving at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Sunday, Jan. 4, 2009. (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)

(AP)

Meeting with Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Obama set a tone of urgency for dealing with a financial situation that he described as "precarious."

He said, "The speaker and her staff have been extraordinarily helpful in working with our team so we can shape an economic recovery plan and start putting people back to work."

But he also met with Republicans in an effort to build broad support for quick action.

"This is not a Republican problem or a Democratic problem at this stage," he said. "It is an American problem and we're going to all have to chip in and do what the American people expect."

At his meeting with bipartisan leaders of Congress, Obama said he would make his stimulus proposal available on the Internet, with a Google-like search function to show each proposed project or program, by congressional district, according to three people who attended.

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After meeting with Obama, House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, said he was concerned about the plan's cost.

"This is not a package that's ever going to be paid for by the current generation," Boehner said. "It's being paid for by our kids and grandkids."

Republican lawmakers want more details, Boehner said, but he replied "yes" when asked if he expected a stimulus plan to be enacted within six weeks.

Said Pelosi: "It is a great honor and personal privilege to welcome you to this office. Tomorrow we will swear in a new Congress and we will hit the ground running on the initiatives ... to ease the pain being felt by the American people."

The Obama plan's tax cuts for individuals and couples would be a bit different from the rebate checks sent out last year by the Bush administration and Congress in a bid to boost the slowing economy. The relief this time around would be awarded by withholding less from worker paychecks. That provision would cost about $140-150 billion over two years.