US President Barack Obama, whose popularity has fallen to new lows amid fears the American economy could be headed for another recession, will unveil a jobs package in a speech to Congress on Thursday.
The plan is expected to total more than $300 billion, according to U.S. media reports.
Economic woes have clouded Obama's 2012 re-election prospects and he faces pressure from Democratic allies to offer a bold plan for reducing the 9.1 percent unemployment rate.
In the speech, which will take place at 7 p.m. EDT (2300 GMT), Obama will unveil a mix of measures, some of which could clear the Democratic-led Senate as well as the Republican-led House of Representatives, and others that might face greater resistance.
Here are elements likely to be part of the speech:
EXTENSIONS OF PAYROLL TAX CUTS: Extending a payroll tax cut for workers first enacted last December is the centerpiece of Obama's plan. Continuing the tax cut for another year would cost about $112 billion, according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office.
Congressional Republicans are lukewarm on the idea, with some saying the White House should focus on measures such as broad tax reform that would have a more lasting impact.
Macroeconomic Advisers, an economic consulting firm, estimates that extending the payroll tax holiday, emergency unemployment benefits and business expensing provisions through 2012 would boost employment by about 600,000 next year.
INFRASTRUCTURE SPENDING: Obama has said public works projects, such as the repair of highways and school buildings, would be one way of putting unemployed construction workers back on the job while upgrading the country's infrastructure.
Republicans contend large-scale spending initiatives have not helped the economy and point as evidence to the economy's weakness despite the $800 billion stimulus package Obama and his fellow Democrats enacted in 2009.
But infrastructure spending is popular with voters and Republicans have indicated they might be willing to support some initiatives.
The CBO has said big construction projects often require years of planning and preparation. Many road, bridge and sewer projects financed by the 2009 stimulus got bogged down in red tape and took a year or more to start construction.
In comments often cited by Republicans, Obama said in a New York Times Magazine interview last October that infrastructure spending could take time to trickle through the economy because "there's no such thing as shovel-ready projects."
AID TO STATES TO PREVENT TEACHER LAYOFFS: Obama is likely to propose federal help to states to prevent layoffs of teachers and emergency first responders.
Declines in government payrolls have put a damper on the job market in recent months, so economists say such aid could contribute to near-term improvement in the jobs picture.
TAX BREAKS FOR BUSINESSES: Obama is likely to propose extending the payroll tax cut to employers as a means of boosting hiring.
Another approach might be to reserve that tax cut for businesses that hire unemployed workers. Congress passed a similar measure last year that cost about $13 billion.
Critics say such tax breaks might have a limited effect on hiring because it might mostly reward firms already planning to add workers. But the incentive could accelerate some hiring decisions.
The plan is expected to total more than $300 billion, according to U.S. media reports.
Economic woes have clouded Obama's 2012 re-election prospects and he faces pressure from Democratic allies to offer a bold plan for reducing the 9.1 percent unemployment rate.
In the speech, which will take place at 7 p.m. EDT (2300 GMT), Obama will unveil a mix of measures, some of which could clear the Democratic-led Senate as well as the Republican-led House of Representatives, and others that might face greater resistance.
Here are elements likely to be part of the speech:
EXTENSIONS OF PAYROLL TAX CUTS: Extending a payroll tax cut for workers first enacted last December is the centerpiece of Obama's plan. Continuing the tax cut for another year would cost about $112 billion, according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office.
Congressional Republicans are lukewarm on the idea, with some saying the White House should focus on measures such as broad tax reform that would have a more lasting impact.
Macroeconomic Advisers, an economic consulting firm, estimates that extending the payroll tax holiday, emergency unemployment benefits and business expensing provisions through 2012 would boost employment by about 600,000 next year.
INFRASTRUCTURE SPENDING: Obama has said public works projects, such as the repair of highways and school buildings, would be one way of putting unemployed construction workers back on the job while upgrading the country's infrastructure.
Republicans contend large-scale spending initiatives have not helped the economy and point as evidence to the economy's weakness despite the $800 billion stimulus package Obama and his fellow Democrats enacted in 2009.
But infrastructure spending is popular with voters and Republicans have indicated they might be willing to support some initiatives.
The CBO has said big construction projects often require years of planning and preparation. Many road, bridge and sewer projects financed by the 2009 stimulus got bogged down in red tape and took a year or more to start construction.
In comments often cited by Republicans, Obama said in a New York Times Magazine interview last October that infrastructure spending could take time to trickle through the economy because "there's no such thing as shovel-ready projects."
AID TO STATES TO PREVENT TEACHER LAYOFFS: Obama is likely to propose federal help to states to prevent layoffs of teachers and emergency first responders.
Declines in government payrolls have put a damper on the job market in recent months, so economists say such aid could contribute to near-term improvement in the jobs picture.
TAX BREAKS FOR BUSINESSES: Obama is likely to propose extending the payroll tax cut to employers as a means of boosting hiring.
Another approach might be to reserve that tax cut for businesses that hire unemployed workers. Congress passed a similar measure last year that cost about $13 billion.
Critics say such tax breaks might have a limited effect on hiring because it might mostly reward firms already planning to add workers. But the incentive could accelerate some hiring decisions.