• Reaction: Idaho delegation unconvinced with Obama's jobs speech/Kevin Richert, Statesman

President Obama on Thursday night will appeal to Congress to "stop the political circus" and help him get the economy moving again with a package of spending and tax cut initiatives expected to cost $447 billion. "The people of this country work hard to meet their responsibilities," Mr. Obama will say before a joint session of Congress, according to his prepared remarks. "The question tonight is whether we'll meet ours. The question is whether, in the face of an ongoing national crisis, we can stop the political circus and actually do something to help the economy." Calling his economic package the "American Jobs Act," Mr. Obama plans to tell the legislature that Washington can't turn the economy around itself, but it can provide a boost to the private sector/Stephanie Condon, NBC News. More here. (AP photo: Rep. Jeff Landry, R-La., holds a sign during President Obama's speech.)

Question: Does a $447B jobs bill have a ghost of a chance to pass in a divided Congress?