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| Obama speech to urge 'refocus' on economy | Obama speech to urge 'refocus' on economy |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| President Barack Obama is set to give what is billed as a major speech on the economy, setting the stage for an autumn budget battle with Congress. | President Barack Obama is set to give what is billed as a major speech on the economy, setting the stage for an autumn budget battle with Congress. |
| He was expected to tout recent economic progress at Knox College, Illinois, without offering new policy proposals. | He was expected to tout recent economic progress at Knox College, Illinois, without offering new policy proposals. |
| On Monday, the president said he hoped to ensure Washington "refocuses" on the most important issues for Americans. | On Monday, the president said he hoped to ensure Washington "refocuses" on the most important issues for Americans. |
| Ahead of the president's remarks, opposition Republicans argued the country needed action, not speeches. | Ahead of the president's remarks, opposition Republicans argued the country needed action, not speeches. |
| In Monday remarks at a political fundraiser, Mr Obama, a Democrat, said Wednesday's speech would be "thematic", but added "concrete" proposals would follow. | In Monday remarks at a political fundraiser, Mr Obama, a Democrat, said Wednesday's speech would be "thematic", but added "concrete" proposals would follow. |
| "There's no more important question for this country than how do we create an economy in which everybody who works hard feels like they can get ahead and feel some measure of security," Mr Obama told supporters at the Washington DC fundraiser. | "There's no more important question for this country than how do we create an economy in which everybody who works hard feels like they can get ahead and feel some measure of security," Mr Obama told supporters at the Washington DC fundraiser. |
| "The key is to try to make sure that this town refocuses on the issues that matter most to people day to day." | "The key is to try to make sure that this town refocuses on the issues that matter most to people day to day." |
| 'Cooked-up road shows' | 'Cooked-up road shows' |
| And on Wednesday morning ahead of Mr Obama's remarks, White House press secretary Jay Carney said Republican lawmakers had recently been distracted by "phony scandals". | And on Wednesday morning ahead of Mr Obama's remarks, White House press secretary Jay Carney said Republican lawmakers had recently been distracted by "phony scandals". |
| Mr Carney was referring to unproven allegations the White House had directed tax authorities to target conservative political groups for extra scrutiny, and Republican insinuations the White House had mislead the public about a deadly attack last year on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya. | Mr Carney was referring to unproven allegations the White House had directed tax authorities to target conservative political groups for extra scrutiny, and Republican insinuations the White House had mislead the public about a deadly attack last year on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya. |
| Republicans, meanwhile, launched their own offensive in advance of Mr Obama's speech in Illinois. | |
| "If Washington Democrats were really serious about turning the economy around," said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, "they'd be working collaboratively with Republicans to do just that, instead of just sitting on the sidelines and waiting to take their cues from the endless political road-shows the president cooks up whenever he feels like changing the topic." | "If Washington Democrats were really serious about turning the economy around," said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, "they'd be working collaboratively with Republicans to do just that, instead of just sitting on the sidelines and waiting to take their cues from the endless political road-shows the president cooks up whenever he feels like changing the topic." |
| And House Speaker John Boehner said: "Welcome to the conversation, Mr President. We've never left it." | And House Speaker John Boehner said: "Welcome to the conversation, Mr President. We've never left it." |
| In recent days the Republican National Committee has promoted the Twitter hashtag #SpeechesDontHire. | In recent days the Republican National Committee has promoted the Twitter hashtag #SpeechesDontHire. |
| After speaking at Knox College, the president will travel to the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg. On Thursday he is to speak in Jacksonville, Florida. | After speaking at Knox College, the president will travel to the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg. On Thursday he is to speak in Jacksonville, Florida. |
| Sidetracked | Sidetracked |
| The string of speeches is intended to highlight economic success to the public and to build support for Mr Obama's agenda ahead of a budget deadline in the autumn. | The string of speeches is intended to highlight economic success to the public and to build support for Mr Obama's agenda ahead of a budget deadline in the autumn. |
| The US economy has slowly but steadily recovered since the depths of the recession in 2009-10. The unemployment rate stands at 7.6%, down from near 10% in January 2010. | |
| On 1 October the current fiscal year expires and the White House is eager to avoid a showdown with Republicans over spending, analysts say. | On 1 October the current fiscal year expires and the White House is eager to avoid a showdown with Republicans over spending, analysts say. |
| Around that time the US is also due to reach the limit of its authority to borrow money to finance the government's budget deficit. | Around that time the US is also due to reach the limit of its authority to borrow money to finance the government's budget deficit. |
| Mr Obama's economic agenda was sidelined at the start of his second term, as he focused on issues such as gun control and immigration. | Mr Obama's economic agenda was sidelined at the start of his second term, as he focused on issues such as gun control and immigration. |