Mr Obama said an "American Jobs Act" would create new jobs for construction workers, teachers and the long-term unemployed .
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US President Barack Obama has urged lawmakers to back his ambitious proposals aimed at creating more jobs and cutting taxes.

In a rare address to a joint session of Congress, he said he wanted to get the unemployed back to work, put money in employees' pockets and rebuild infrastructure.

He urged lawmakers to pass the plan, worth almost $450bn (£282bn), promptly.

Some Republican opponents have said the bill is Mr Obama's re-election plan.