Obama's Statement On Pending Trade Agreements

President Barack Obama released a statement Monday announcing that he is submitting three pending free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea to Congress.

“The series of trade agreements I am submitting to Congress today will make it easier for American companies to sell their products in South Korea, Colombia, and Panama and provide a major boost to our exports.  These agreements will support tens of thousands of jobs across the country for workers making products stamped with three proud words: Made in America.  We’ve worked hard to strengthen these agreements to get the best possible deal for American workers and businesses, and I call on Congress to pass them without delay, along with the bipartisan agreement on Trade Adjustment Assistance that will help workers whose jobs have been affected by global competition.”

Carney Bullish On Jobs Bill Vote

The White House is betting that Congress will vote on at least part of President Obama’s jobs bill.

During his briefing today, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters that he’ll buy them each a beer if Congress fails to move on the legislation by the end of the year.

Carney, a devout Boston Red Sox fan, may need a few adult beverages himself to wash away memories of the Sox’ epic collapse which culminated last night in a season-ending 4-3 walk-off loss against the last-place Baltimore Orioles.

In less than a month, the Red Sox blew a nine-game Wild Card race lead over the Tampa Bay Rays, whose miraculous comeback win against the New York Yankees last night vaulted them a game ahead of Boston and into the American League playoffs.

White House Open To Negotiating Jobs Bill, Says VP

Vice President Joe Biden said Thursday that the White House might be willing to negotiate President Obama’s jobs package with congressional Republicans.

Speaking to a group of police officers in Alexandria, Va., the outspoken Biden said “we’re willing to negotiate with them – if they have a better way to put more cops in the street, if they have a better way to provide for more jobs.”

We’ll see whether White House spokesman Jay Carney responds to his old boss’ remarks during today’s press briefing…

Obama Will Lean On Senate To Pass Jobs Bill

White House press secretary Jay Carney told reporters Wednesday that President Obama will push Hill lawmakers to vote on his jobs package.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Monday that the Senate will “get to that,” referring to Obama’s $447 measure aimed at boosting hiring. Reid later said that his top priority when Congress returns to session next week will be to advance a bill that cracks down on alleged currency manipulation by the Chinese government.

“I don’t think there’s anything more important for a jobs measure than China trade, and that’s what we’re going to work on next week,” Reid said.

Carney today said that Obama “will keep up the pressure” on both the House and Senate to act quickly. And, Carney added, “if it comes to us in pieces, we’re going to keep demanding the rest.”

“We’re not gonna accept half” of the bill, Carney later stated. “That would be half good for the American people.”

Obama, Leading Republicans Take To The Web

President Obama and a trio of House Republicans are in California today to advance their jobs proposals across the social media spectrum.

Obama will be in Mountain View this afternoon for a 2:00 pm ET town hall event sponsored by the online professional networking site, LinkedIn. There, the president is expected to continue lobbying for his jobs bill, the American Jobs Act. Log on to whitehouse.gov at 2:00 pm ET for all the action.

Meanwhile, just six miles down the road in Palo Alto, House Republican leaders will participate in an online discussion hosted by Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg.

In an interview with Politico’s Mike Allen, the so-called “Young Guns”  — House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.), House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) — said the purpose of the event is to broadcast their message to a wide array of Americans, and to let them know that “Washington is listening.”

Tune into Facebook at 6:00 pm ET to watch the event.