Obama seeks Republican help for economic recovery bill

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
US President Barack Obama's $819 billion economic stimulus legislation is headed for the Senate after a surprisingly partisan vote in the House of Representatives, in which Republicans united in opposition. Obama hailed his recovery plan, saying it would "save or create more than three million new jobs over the next few years." During Senate debate next week, the measure is expected to pick up at least some Republican support. But Obama's hopes of changing Washington's partisan culture went unmet despite the popular president's separate high-profile meetings on Capitol Hill on Tuesday with House and Senate Republicans. "This recovery plan will save or create more than three million new jobs over the next few years," the president said in a written statement released moments after the House voted. He later welcomed congressional leaders of both parties to the White House for drinks as he continued to lobby for the legislation.