In a striking outbreak of bipartisanship, the White House Tuesday issued a statement backing a small-business bill written by House Republicans.
The bill, designed to free small businesses from some government regulations and make it easier to raise capital, is expected to get a vote in the House later this week.
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In its statement of support the White House said the ideas in the bill match some of what President Obama talked about in his own economic plans during his address to Congress last September and in his State of the Union address earlier this year.
“The president is encouraged to see that there is common ground between his approach and some of the proposals” in the House Republicans’ bill, the White House said.
The support marks a turnabout from the usual situation over the last year, when House Republicans have proposed legislation and Mr. Obama has reacted icily, often threatening to veto the GOP’s work if it reaches his desk.
But after the welcoming statement Tuesday, Republicans responded with nice words of their own.
“The president’s statement in support of the Jobs Act is great news for the small businessmen and women, entrepreneurs and start-ups that are driving job creation across the country,” said House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, Virginia Republican.
