【正文】 sponsibilities.WEEKLY ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENTTO THE NATIONFebruary 14, 2009This week, I spent some time with Americans across the country who are hurting because of our economic crisis. People closing the businesses they scrimped and saved to start. Families losing the homes that were their stake in the American Dream. Folks who have given up trying to get ahead, and given in to the stark reality of just trying to get by.They’ve been looking to those they sent to Washington for some hope at a time when they need it most.This morning, I’m pleased to say that after a lively debate full of healthy difference of opinion, we have delivered real and tangible progress for the American people.Congress has passed my economic recovery plan – an ambitious plan at a time we badly need it. It will save or create more than million jobs over the next two years, ignite spending by business and consumers alike, and lay a new foundation for our lasting economic growth and prosperity.This is a major milestone on our road to recovery, and I want to thank the Members of Congress who came together in mon purpose to make it happen. Because they did, I will sign this legislation into law shortly, and we’ll begin making the immediate investments necessary to put people back to work doing the work America needs done.The work of modernizing our health care system, saving billions of dollars and countless lives。m pleased to say it ended on a more positive note.In the morning, we received yet another round of alarming employment figures – the worst in more than 30 years. Another 600,000 jobs were lost in January. We39。t afford to make perfect the enemy of the absolutely necessary. The scale and scope of this plan is right. And the time for action is now.Because if we don39。t rely on a losing formula that offers only tax cuts as the answer to all our problems while ignoring our fundamental economic challenges – the crushing cost of health care or the inadequate state of so many schools。ve lost their jobs. And it helps our states and munities avoid painful tax hikes or layoffs for our teachers, nurses, and first responders.That39。s show them that we are. And let39。m pleased to announce that this morning, the Treasury Department began directing employers to reduce the amount of taxes withheld from paychecks meaning that by April 1st, a typical family will begin taking home at least $65 more every month. Never before in our history has a tax cut taken effect faster or gone to so many hardworking Americans.But as important as it was that I was able to sign this plan into law, it is only a first step on the road to economic recovery. And we can39。ll release a budget that39。t solve our housing crisis unless we help people find work so that they can make payments on their homes. We can39。 through investments in wind power and solar power。t just statistics, but hardships experienced personally by millions of Americans who no longer know how they39。s why we39。ve inherited a budgeting process as irresponsible as it is unsustainable. For years, as Wall Street used accounting tricks to conceal costs and avoid responsibility, Washington did, too.These kinds of irresponsible budgets and inexcusable practices are。ve already begun to implement the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act a plan that will save and create over million jobs over the next two years jobs rebuilding our roads and bridges, constructing wind turbines and solar panels, expanding broadband and mass transit. And because of this plan, those who have lost their job in this recession will be able to receive extended unemployment benefits and continued health care coverage, while 95 percent of working Americans will receive a tax break beginning April 1st. Of course, like every family going through hard times, our country must make tough choices. In order to pay for the things we need we cannot waste money on the things we don39。s why my administration is mitted to doing all that39。 new tax credits that will make college more affordable for all who want to go。t generate sustained growth without getting our deficits under control. In short, we cannot successfully address any of our problems without addressing them all. And that is exactly what the strategy we are pursuing is designed to do.None of this will be easy. The road ahead will be long and full of hazards. But I am confident that we, as a people, have the strength and wisdom to carry out this strategy and overe this crisis. And if we do, our economy and our country will be better and stronger for it.Thank you.Remarks of President Barack ObamaWeekly AddressSaturday, February 28th, 2009Washington, DCTwo years ago, we set out on a journey to change the way that Washington works. We sought a government that served not the interests of powerful lobbyists or the wealthiest few, but the middleclass Americans I met every day in every munity along the campaign trail – responsible men and women who are working harder than ever, worrying about their jobs, and struggling to raise their families. In so many town halls and backyards, they spoke of their hopes for a government that finally confronts the challenges that their families face every day。t, and restoring fiscal discipline.No single piece of this broad economic recovery can, by itself, meet the demands that have been placed on us. We can39。s only by setting and enforcing 21st century rules of the road that we can build a thriving economy.And it will require doing all we can to get exploding deficits under control as our economy begins to recover. That work begins on Monday, when I will convene a fiscal summit of independent experts and unions, advocacy groups and members of Congress, to discuss how we can cut the trilliondollar deficit that we39。m grateful to Congress, governors and mayors across the country, and to all of you whose support made this critical step possible.Becau