President Obama and his wife Michelletraveled to the states of North Carolinaand Virginia this week.The Obamas were seeking supportfor the president's four hundred forty-sevenbillion dollar jobs plan.The American Jobs Act calls for cutting wage taxeson most businesses.It seeks to prevent public employeeslike teachers, police and firefightersfrom losing their jobs to budget cutting measures.And it calls for more federal spendingon roads and transportation infrastructureto help create jobs.Last week, the Senateblocked a vote on the full bill.On Sunday, the Majority Leaderin the House of Representatives saidsome parts of the bill are like those in a planput forward by the Republican Party.Eric Cantor urged President Obamato find common ground with House Republicans.ERIC CANTOR: "We want the president to work with us.We want him to stop campaigning.Let's go find the things that are in commonbetween this plan and his."Republicans in Congress offered their own plansto improve job growth earlier in the year.They have called for cutting tax ratesand limiting government rules on businesses.Last week, Congress passed free trade dealswith South Korea, Colombia and Panama.Both Mister Obama and Congressional Republicansagree the deals should create jobs at homeand open markets to American exports.United States trade officials sayevery billion dollars in new exportssupports six thousand additional jobs.Last year, exports to South Korea alonestood at about thirty-nine billion dollars.President Obama signsthe trade agreements into law Friday.But, the president says a lack of jobscontinues to hurt economic growth.The unemployment rate heldat nine point one percent in September.The economy added over one hundred thousand jobsduring the month.But economists say that is not enoughto markedly bring down jobless rate.In Hampton, Virginia,First Lady Michelle Obama joined her husbandin speaking to armed service members.She spoke about part of his jobs planaimed at helping veterans find jobsafter they leave the armed forces.MICHELLE OBAMA: "And this commitmentputs us a quarter of the way towardsreaching the president's challengeto the private sector to hireor train 100,000 vets and military spousesby the end of 2013."President Obama has said lawmakers will nowhave to vote on parts of his jobs plan.And, he said, they will have to explainwhy they voted the way they did.And that's the VOA Special English Economics Report.Find more economic newswith transcripts and MP3s at 51voa.com.And follow us on Facebook and Twitterat VOA Learning English.