Jobs Plan Stuck, Obama Takes New Tack, New Slogan

Barack Obama's jobs bill may have been stopped in the Senate by Republican filibuster threats, but the president still has plenty of tools at his disposal. Beginning today, he plans to launch a series of measures to help with housing, education, and the economy, reports the New York Times. In Las Vegas, one of the areas hurt worst by the housing bust, Obama will unveil new mortgage rules to help homeowners refinance and avoid foreclosure. On Wednesday, he'll announce changes to federal student loans to make repayments easier. White House officials said they'll announce a new executive action each week for the rest of the year.

The president's new slogan for these efforts is "We can't wait"—as "Pass this bill" apparently did little good—designed to pressure Republicans into supporting measures to support job creation legislation. “The only way we can truly attack our economic challenges is with bold, bipartisan action in Congress,” said Obama’s communications director. “The president will continue to pressure congressional Republicans to put country before party and pass the American Jobs Act, but he believes we cannot wait, so he will act where they won’t.” (More President Obama stories.)