Obama vows to speed up economic stimulus effort

WASHINGTON -- President Obama's pledge Monday to speed up stimulus spending and "create or save" 600,000 jobs drew a sharp attack from Republicans, who argue the rising unemployment rate invalidates the claims from the White House.

"We've got a long way to go, but I feel like we've made great progress," Obama said before a Cabinet meeting, outlining a new phase in the $787 billion stimulus plan. It includes money for educators, police, construction projects and temporary summer jobs for youths — most of them previously proposed or already in the works.

Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va., the House GOP vote counter, said the Obama administration is providing "vague descriptions of success that seem to change by the week." Obama said the stimulus plan had created or saved 150,000 jobs in the first 100 days since the bill was signed in February. Cantor and other Republicans noted that the unemployment rate when the bill was signed was 8.1% but rose to 9.4% for May.

"This is President Obama's economy," Cantor said.

Jared Bernstein, chief economist for Vice President Biden, acknowledged that the initial White House projections for the stimulus plan were "too optimistic" but "seemed reasonable" because of the data at the time.

Among the 10 "key targets" for accelerated stimulus spending:

•135,000 jobs that include teachers, principals and support staff.

•5,000 law enforcement officers.

•60,000 jobs from improvement projects at 1,500 highway sites and 98 airports.

•1,275 jobs at 107 national parks.

•At least 750 jobs to help 1,129 health centers expand treatment for 300,000 patients.

The plan also calls on the Labor Department to create 125,000 summer jobs for youths, temporary posts the White House counts as part-time. Bernstein said these jobs are included in the 600,000 because two part-time jobs count as one "full-time equivalent." Job figures on other projects to make up the 600,000 goal were not released.

The administration could not provide job estimates for other targeted spending it plans for the next 100 days of the stimulus plan. The list includes funding for 200 new waste and water systems, as well as construction improvements at 359 military facilities and 90 veterans' medical centers. The are also clean-up projects at 20 Superfund sites.