NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — President Obama is meeting with executives from 14 companies Wednesday to encourage them to bring jobs back to the United States.

The so-called “Insourcing American Jobs” forum at the White House includes leaders from Ford (F, Fortune 500), DuPont (DD, Fortune 500), Intel (INTC, Fortune 500), Otis Elevators and Rolls Royce, among others.

WASHINGTON (CNNMoney) — There’s one thing that turns some Tea Party Republicans into government-job lovers like their Democratic rivals: Their neighborhood post office.

In fact, the U.S. Postal Service’s reach into every state and congressional district is a big reason why Americans shouldn’t expect Congress to make the drastic changes that the postmaster general says are needed for the service to survive — especially before the 2012 election.

Bills to save the debt-ridden postal service are making their way through both chambers. Postmaster Patrick Donahoe said last week that both bills delay tough decisions.

CHICAGO — Maggie Daley, the wife of former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and a gracious promoter of the city’s cultural and educational programs, has died. She was 68.

Maggie Daley, who had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002, died Thursday night, family spokeswoman Jacquelyn Heard told The Associated Press. Daley had been a reserved and dignified presence at her husband’s side during his 22 eventful years as mayor.

Heard said Daley was surrounded by her husband and children when she died just after 6 p.m. CDT.

“The mayor and his family would like to thank the people of Chicago for the many kindnesses they’ve shown Mrs. Daley over the years, and they appreciate your prayers during this time,” Heard said.

Heated discussions are commonplace on Capitol Hill, but it’s rare form for a witness and a legislator to have at it.

But it happened on Friday when Alaska Republican Rep. Don Young sparred (intensely) with historian Douglas Brinkley at a hearing of the House Natural Resources Committee.

Brinkley recently authored “The Quiet World: Saving Alaska’s Wilderness Kingdom,” and was offering his opinions on the effects of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

But Young called the hearing an “an exercise in futility,” and likened the testimony to “garbage.” Then, he called Brinkley “Dr. Rice,” confusing him with the university where he teaches.

And that’s when the fireworks began (note the expression on the face of the aide sitting behind Young).

Senate Democrats on Friday rolled out the next phase in their push to pass individual parts of President Obama’s jobs bill: a $60 billion bill to invest in infrastructure projects around the country.

In a conference call less than 24 hours after the Senate blocked a jobs bill for teachers and first responders, Majority Leader Harry Reid told reporters, “We’re going to give Senate Republicans another chance to do what’s right for the country.”

Washington (CNN) — Democrats and Republicans tried to force versions of a jobs bill through the Senate late Thursday, but both fell short of the 60 votes they would have needed to bring their proposals to the floor.

In a 50-50 vote, senators blocked a component of President Barack Obama’s jobs bill — $35 billion for states and localities to hire more teachers and first responders while preventing current ones from being laid off.

“For the second time in two weeks, every single Republican in the United States Senate has chosen to obstruct a bill that would create jobs and get our economy going again,” Obama said in a statement.

WASHINGTON — Congress is embarking on a flurry of votes to show it is trying to do something about creating jobs. The prospects for legislative success, however, are spotty.

One exception is in the area of trade. Congress is expected to approve free trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama that have been pending since the presidency of George W. Bush. Supporters of the treaties — the first completed in the Obama administration — say the pacts could boost exports by $13 billion a year and foster tens of thousands of American jobs.

The House takes up the three agreements on Tuesday, along with legislation pushed by Obama and Democrats to help workers displaced by foreign trade. Both chambers could sign off on the measures by Wednesday night.

WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats are rewriting portions of President Barack Obama’s jobs bill to include a new 5 percent tax on income above $1 million — a proposal that is sure to be blocked by Republicans.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Wednesday he is changing the plan to make sure the nation’s wealthiest families pay their fair share, picking up on a theme the White House has promoted throughout this year’s budget battles.

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says he expects Congress to vote on jobs legislation this month and plans to press legislative leaders from both parties to act quickly on the $447 billion proposal he delivered three weeks ago.

Speaking to reporters at the beginning of a Cabinet meeting Monday, Obama said he is ready to sign the legislation.
Perry’s troubles continue

He called on congressional Republicans to spell out what aspects of his plan they agree with and which they reject.

WASHINGTON — In a fiery summons to an important voting block, President Barack Obama told blacks on Saturday to quit crying and complaining and “put on your marching shoes” to follow him into battle for jobs and opportunity.

And though he didn’t say it directly, for a second term, too.

Obama’s speech to the annual awards dinner of the Congressional Black
Caucus was his answer to increasingly vocal griping from black leaders
that he’s been giving away too much in talks with Republicans — and not
doing enough to fight black unemployment, which is nearly double the
national average at 16.7 percent.