SENSE OF URGENCY AND ACTION : Obama Appeals To Congress

President Obama is expressing a sense of urgency in pushing for approval of his economic stimulus plan. One day's delay in approval, he says, means even more people suffering from the financial crisis gripping the nation.

Obama created his team of Anticrisis leaders, including the former chairman of the Federal Reserve, Paul Volcker. Volcker, 81, is recognized for his successful efforts in stemming an inflationary spiral the United States faced in the early 80's. The team will be headed byPenny Pritzker, who managed the Obama presidential campaign's finance committee. Also on the team: Oracle Corporation President Charles Phillips, and Laura D'Andre Tyson who was an economic adviser to then-President Bill Clinton

U.S, unemployment records show that some 600,000 people were laid off has been last month; the highest number in more than three decades.

Obama continued to ratchet up the rhetoric for the plan, calling congressional inaction on the proposal “inexcusable and irresponsible,” and warning that a failure to act quickly would have potentially devastating consequences for countless Americans

"Don’t come to the table with the same tired arguments and worn ideas that helped to create this crisis,” the president said.