Republicans in Congress are in a quandary on jobs

Many are finding that opposing President Obama's $447-billion plan isn't enough. They say they need an alternative.

By Kathleen Hennessey, Washington Bureau
LA Times
5:25 PM PDT, October 22, 2011

Reporting from Stuart, Fla.

Surrounded by a group of eager businessmen in a South Florida boardroom, Republican Rep. Tom Rooney offered no promises or illusions about the jobs bill he unveiled last week.

He didn't promise a vote. It may or may not find support in the Senate. Rooney, a scion in a famous football family, joked that his legislative strategy included putting Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, a fellow Republican, in a headlock.

The important thing, Rooney said, was that he had a plan to address voters' top concern: jobs. Blaming Washington's inaction on political stalemates would not impress his constituents.

INTERACTIVE: U.S. unemployment rate by state

"I thought it was incumbent on me to at least say to you, 'We're working on a plan,'" he said.

(More here.)