Obama Cites Economists Calling Jobs Bill Insurance Against Double-Dip

President Obama sends Congress the $447 billion American Jobs Act to Congress today with the sales pitch that experts are calling his plan to boost the economy an insurance policy against a double-dip recession.

"When you look at what independent economists are saying about the American Jobs Act, my jobs plan, uniformly what they are saying is this buys us insurance against a double-dip recession and it almost certainly helps the economy grow and will put more people back to work," Obama told NBC News. "And that's what the American people want right now."

Obama also appealed to Republicans to not re-live the debt ceiling debacle again and put the markets and Main Street Americans at risk.

"What we've done is we've been able to stabilize the economy. And, you know, that is an enormous accomplishment. But the fact of the matter is we are not where we need to be. And it is important for us to not relitigate all the arguments of the past, but rather to say right now, what are the smartest things we can do to put people back to work?" Obama added.

This from a White House official:

"The President will make remarks in the Rose Garden on the need for Congress to pass the American Jobs Act. He will announce that he will be sending the bill to Congress on Monday evening when Congress comes back into session. He will call on Congress to pass the bill, which contains the kinds of proposals to grow the economy and create jobs that have been supported by both parties in the past. He will be joined at the Rose Garden event by people from across the country who would benefit from the American Jobs Act, including teachers, police officers, firefighters, construction workers, small business owners, and veterans."

The Democratic National Committee is providing Obama some air cover with a new TV ad to try to help make his case for Congress to pass the bill.

Obama Urges Congress to Embrace a New Recovery Plan

President Obama promises he will offer up a new recovery plan next month and he has a message to Republicans in Congress who obstruct efforts to jump start the economy: Get on board or face the voters next year.

"Moving forward, my basic attitude is we know what to do.  I'll be putting forward, when they come back in September, a very specific plan to boost the economy, to create jobs, and to control our deficit. And my attitude is, get it done," Obama said during a surprise announcement at a stop in Decorah, Iowa

After a weekend of playing the punching bag, President Obama is hitting back with a three-day bus trip through the heartland that includes five town halls, three states and a lot of bruising shots at what he casts as a do-nothing GOP-led Congress.

"And if they don’t get it done, then we’ll be running against a Congress that’s not doing anything for the American people, and the choice will be very stark and will be very clear," Obama said in a veiled threat to campaign in districts where members of Congress oppose a new stimulus plan.

Now on Day Two of the listening tour, Obama is hosting a White House Rural Economic Forum in Peosta, Iowa, where he is announcing a new rural jobs initiative that includes committing $350 million in Small Business Administration funds over the next five years. White Housae officials say it is only a small taste of the recovery plan the President plans to roll out next month.

"SBA is pleased to announce that we will be doubling the capital going to rural businesses through the Small Business Investment Company program, with no cost to taxpayers,” said SBA Administrator Karen Mills. "Small businesses of all kinds are thriving in rural areas where they are creating jobs of the future and helping ensure the economic stability of the middle class."

Predictably, the GOP and some members of the mainstream media are slamming Obama for what they call a campaign-style trip paid for with taxpayer money. It is a charge that Presidents have long faced from the opposition party in election cycles.

Obama is riding in his Midwest motorcade this week in a brand new, giant black bullet-proof bus purchased by Secret Service for $1.1 million. The Secret Service made the decision about a year ago to buy two of the secure buses to use to protect the President, other government officials and visiting foreign dignitaries, a spokesman said.