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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Obama to urge speed on stimulus | Obama to urge speed on stimulus |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| President Barack Obama is set to renew calls on Congress to speed up the passage of his economic stimulus plan when he makes two speeches later. | President Barack Obama is set to renew calls on Congress to speed up the passage of his economic stimulus plan when he makes two speeches later. |
| Although the House of Representatives has already approved the plan, and the Senate is expected to do so by Tuesday, their versions of the bill now differ. | Although the House of Representatives has already approved the plan, and the Senate is expected to do so by Tuesday, their versions of the bill now differ. |
| The two Congress houses will have to agree on a single final version. | The two Congress houses will have to agree on a single final version. |
| President Obama says his package, which may come to $900bn (£612bn), is "absolutely necessary" for the economy. | |
| His is to set to renew his calls on Congress to agree the plan as quickly as possible at both a speech in Indiana, and at his first presidential news conference at the White House. | His is to set to renew his calls on Congress to agree the plan as quickly as possible at both a speech in Indiana, and at his first presidential news conference at the White House. |
| Jobs push | Jobs push |
| One of the president's top advisers, Larry Summers, has already used television interviews to remind politicians of the need for haste. | One of the president's top advisers, Larry Summers, has already used television interviews to remind politicians of the need for haste. |
| There are respects in which both bills can surely be improved Larry Summers, presidential advisor | There are respects in which both bills can surely be improved Larry Summers, presidential advisor |
| "The president feels that... we need a major programme enacted very quickly that will create three to four million jobs," Larry Summers told ABC TV. | "The president feels that... we need a major programme enacted very quickly that will create three to four million jobs," Larry Summers told ABC TV. |
| Mr Summers is head of the White House's national economic council. | Mr Summers is head of the White House's national economic council. |
| Speaking on ABC's This Week programme, Mr Summers said: "The most important thing is that people come together and create the three to four million jobs." | Speaking on ABC's This Week programme, Mr Summers said: "The most important thing is that people come together and create the three to four million jobs." |
| He added that there was "90% overlap" between the two versions of the bill now in Congress, and "we've got to get closure on the last 10%". | He added that there was "90% overlap" between the two versions of the bill now in Congress, and "we've got to get closure on the last 10%". |
| "There are certainly good ideas in both versions and we'll have to draw from those ideas in creating an ultimate vehicle," he said. | "There are certainly good ideas in both versions and we'll have to draw from those ideas in creating an ultimate vehicle," he said. |
| The House and Senate measures are largely similar, but there are some differences over how to expand the federal medical assistance programme, Medicaid, and over certain tax issues. | The House and Senate measures are largely similar, but there are some differences over how to expand the federal medical assistance programme, Medicaid, and over certain tax issues. |
| 'Forthright' | 'Forthright' |
| US lawmakers will have to combine the two bills and have a finished version ready by the president's deadline of 16 February. | US lawmakers will have to combine the two bills and have a finished version ready by the president's deadline of 16 February. |
| "There are respects in which both bills can surely be improved," said Mr Summers. | "There are respects in which both bills can surely be improved," said Mr Summers. |
| The former Treasury secretary added that a "large, forthright" approach was needed, with more support for education state and local governments to ward off a potentially downward spiral. | The former Treasury secretary added that a "large, forthright" approach was needed, with more support for education state and local governments to ward off a potentially downward spiral. |
| New US employment figures were released on Friday showing that nearly 600,000 jobs were lost in January, pushing the unemployment rate to 7.6% - its highest in 17 years. | New US employment figures were released on Friday showing that nearly 600,000 jobs were lost in January, pushing the unemployment rate to 7.6% - its highest in 17 years. |