Obama: 'Pass these tax cuts'

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama Saturday called on Americans to tell Congress "to put country before party" and pass payroll tax cuts before its holiday recess.

In his weekly radio and Internet address, the president noted that the economy added 140,000 private sector jobs in November and has added private sector jobs for 21 consecutive months -- "almost 3 million new jobs in all, more than half a million of them in the past four months alone."

"We need to keep this growth going and strengthen it," he said. "That's why we've been fighting to pass a series of jobs bills through Congress -- bills that independent economists say will create more jobs and grow the economy even faster. Because now is the time to step on the gas, not slam on the brakes.

"Unfortunately, too many Republicans in Congress don't seem to share that same sense of urgency," the president said. "Over the last few months, they've said 'no' to most of these jobs bills."

He told listeners and viewers Democrats and Republicans cooperated in 2010 to pass a payroll tax cut worth what he said was worth about $1,000 "for the typical middle-class family." The president said if Congress does not enact a similar cut by the end of the month, "that same family will see its taxes go up by $1,000. We can't let that happen. In fact, I think we should cut taxes on working families and small business owners even more."

Obama said the administration would press Congress to extend the payroll tax cut and urged Americans to apply pressure on their representatives as well.

"Tell them to put country before party," he said. "Put money back in the pockets of working Americans. Pass these tax cuts."