US News

Obama discusses jobs, deficit with congressional leaders

Feb 9, 2010, 16:28 GMT

US President Barack Obama (C) makes remarks prior to a bipartisan meeting with Congressional leaders to discuss jobs and the economy, in the Cabinet Room of the White House, in Washington, DC, USA on 09 February 2010. EPA/MIKE THEILER / POOL

Washington - President Barack Obama met with Democratic and Republican congressional leaders on Tuesday, hoping to iron out differences over how to jumpstart US job growth and cut a skyrocketing budget deficit.

Obama said the US public had become 'frustrated' with the lack of movement in Washington and said he was confident there were at least some areas of agreement between the two parties on tax incentives for small businesses and reining in US debt levels.

'What we'd like to see is the ability of Congress to move forward in a bipartisan fashion on some of the key challenges that the country is facing right now,' Obama said at the top of the White House meeting.

Obama's fellow Democrats will be forced to work more closely with opposition Republican lawmakers this year after a shock conservative election victory in Massachusetts last month robbed Democrats of their super-majority in the Senate.

The two parties have been at odds on everything from health care to the economy, climate change and financial regulation. Obama promised more regular meetings with top lawmakers from both sides during his State of the Union speech before Congress last month.