Obama urges Congress to quickly pass rescue plan

US President-elect Barack Obama yesterday urged lawmakers to quickly pass at least "a down payment" on a new economic rescue plan to help resuscitate the ailing American economy.

In a radio address that was also published as a Youtube video on his website www.change.gov, Obama noted that the leaders of G-20 nations were in Washington this weekend to seek solutions to the economic turmoil that has spread around the world.

"I'm glad President Bush has initiated this process because our global economic crisis requires a co-ordinated global response," Obama said.

"And yet, as we act in concert with other nations, we must also act immediately here at home to address America's own economic crisis."

At the same time, Obama moved to fill out more of his staff as he prepares to take power on January 20. A senior campaign adviser and former housing developer, Valerie Jarrett, will serve as senior White House adviser.

Another senior campaign adviser, Phil Schiliro, will serve as his legislative affairs adviser. Vice President-elect Joe Biden announced earlier last week that former Clinton administration official Ron Klain will serve as his chief of staff, a job he held for Al Gore.

"These individuals will be essential members of our team as we work to bring Republicans and Democrats together to strengthen our struggling economy and make Washington work for all Americans," Obama said in a statement.

In his radio address, Obama noted that financial markets are volatile, unemployment insurance claims have jumped to their highest levels since September 11, 2001, and more jobs are disappearing.

"We've lost jobs for 10 straight months - nearly 1.2 million jobs this year, many of them in our struggling auto industry," he said. "And millions of our fellow citizens lie awake each night wondering how they're going to pay their bills, stay in their homes and save for retirement."

Obama said he was "more hopeful than ever" that the US will find a way out of the economic slump.

"But we must act right now," he said, noting that Congress was meeting this week to address the spreading impact of the financial crisis.

"I urge them to pass at least a down payment on a rescue plan that will create jobs, relieve the squeeze on families, and help get the economy growing again."

Obama specifically called for help for the more than 1 million Americans who will have run out of unemployment insurance by the end of the year.