Obama Says Businesses, Workers Need Stimulus Now

President Barack Obama says businesses and workers are counting on Washington for "bold and swift" action to steady the struggling economy.

After a meeting with a group of business executives, Obama publicly acknowledged skepticism about "the size and scale" of the $825 billion economic recovery plan that will be put before the House for a vote later Wednesday.

He said earlier he was confident that the measure would make it through the House. And in his appearance at the White House before reporters and business leaders, Obama said national leaders must "create a favoriable climate in which workers can prosper, businesses can thrive and our economy can grow."