Obama avoids political showdown, reschedules Congress speech

Obama, who wanted to outline his much-anticipated jobs creation plan next Wednesday evening, has now agreed to reschedule the Congressional speech on the economy, after the Speaker proposed an alternative date September 8.

"The President is focused on the urgent need to create jobs and grow our economy, so he welcomes the opportunity to address a Joint Session of Congress on Thursday, September 8th and challenge our nation's leaders to start focusing 100 per cent of their attention on doing whatever they can to help the American people," said Jay Carney, the White House Press Secretary in a statement yesterday.

The President wanted to address the Congress on September 7th, but the Speaker "determined Thursday would work better,” Carney said after Boehner wrote to Obama that September 7 is not possible due to parliamentary and logistical and problem.
Major media outlets termed Boehner’s response as unprecedented snub to the US President.

Congressional historians say that Boehner's move was unprecedented, The New York Times reported.

"The Senate Historical Office knows of no instance in which Congress refused the president permission to speak before a Joint Session of Congress," Betty K. Koed, associate historian with the Senate, was quoted as saying by The Times.

Koed said permission to speak in a joint session is given by resolution of the House and Senate, and arrangements are made through the leadership offices of each chamber.
"Though Obama would need both chambers of Congress to adopt a concurrent resolution in order to be allowed to speak, it is highly unusual for Congress to reject a president’s request," The Washington Post reported.

It said the political maneuvering injected still more ill will into the ongoing fight between the White House and Congressional Republicans in their attempts to gain the upperhand in the debate over "how to solve the nation’s ongoing economic problems".

"And both sides quickly pointed fingers at one another for the scheduling problem," the daily said.Earlier, Obama said in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Boehner that he wanted to lay out a series of bipartisan proposals that the Congress can take immediately to continue to rebuild the American economy by strengthening small businesses and help Americans get back to work.

Boehner said with the significant amount of time that is required to allow for a security sweep of the House Chamber before receiving a President, "it is my recommendation that your address be held on the following evening, when we can ensure there will be no parliamentary or logistical impediments that might detract from your remarks,".

"As such, on behalf of the bipartisan leadership and membership of both the House and Senate, I respectfully invite you to address a Joint Session of Congress on Thursday, September 8, 2011 in the House Chamber, at a time that works best for your schedule,” Boehner said.