On Immigration Reform, Obama Skips Specifics

Proponents hope measure will create 250K jobs

(AP) - US companies that hire unemployed workers will get a temporary payroll tax holiday under a bill that easily won final congressional approval today. The 68-29 Senate vote sends the legislation to the White House, where President Obama has promised to sign it into law. Optimistic estimates predict the tax break could generate 250,000 jobs through the end of the year, a tiny fraction of the 8.4 million jobs lost since the start of the recession. More»

Congressional Democrats were irked at president for skipping town

(NEWSER) - Despite White House assurances to the contrary yesterday, President Obama will postpone his Asian trip for three days to focus on firming up health care reform legislation. Congressional Democrats had expressed dismay that the president was leaving the country as the House approached a deal that may allow them to pass the Senate bill, Politico reports. Obama will depart for Indonesia and Australia on the March 21, not 18—the deadline he gave Congress for a deal—and will trim all sidetrips, leaving Michelle and the girls at home. More»

If there is one, which we hope there isn't. Good idea, say Dems.

(NEWSER) - In the circus that is the Senate these days, a couple of anti-public-option Republicans—Tom Coburn and David Vitter—rolled out an amendment to the health care bill Friday requiring members of Congress to enroll in any such plan that might come to pass. When Dems didn’t object—Sherrod Brown, Chris Dodd, and Al Franken tried to cosponsor, but were rebuffed—GOP senators upped the ante and added in the president. The amended amendment would extend the mandate to the whole executive branch. More»

(NEWSER) - With the Obama administration stepping up its push for health-care reform, Mark Halperin, in Time, lists five reasons why it will, and won't, get done. The pros:

• The industry is "still on board."
• "Barack Obama doesn't fail too often."
• It's a must-win for the entire White House agenda.
• Congressional Democrats are "remarkably united" on the issue.
• There's enough big-name Republicans who want a deal.

(NEWSER) - President Obama today called on lawmakers to send him a health care reform bill before the end of the year, the Wall Street Journal reports. “We've got to get it done this year,” the president said in a meeting with House Democrats. “We don't have any excuses, the stars are aligned.” He also applauded Nancy Pelosi’s pledge that the House will introduce legislation before the August recess. More»