Obama, Congress leaders seek cooperation on jobs

Congress approved some elements of his economic agenda, including trade agreements with South Korea, Panama and Colombia. But proposals to create construction jobs and to prevent layoffs of public employees went nowhere, and Obama's plan to pay for his plan by raising taxes on the wealthy also fell by the wayside.

The clash between the White House and Republicans culminated earlier in February in Republican acquiescence to a Social Security payroll tax cut extension without offsetting cuts in government spending.

Besides their differences on the oil pipeline, both sides also are embroiled in a skirmish over a contraception requirement in the new health care law. Republicans say it forces employers to provide health plans that offer contraception even though they may have religious objections to such coverage.

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Associated Press writer Andrew Taylor contributed to this report.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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