WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 (Saba) -- Prior to meeting with a group of top U.S. business leaders at the White House on Wednesday, President Barack Obama said he wanted to get their ideas to restore U.S. jobs and economic growth, according to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).

"This morning I hope to elicit ideas from these business leaders that will help us not only climb out of recession but seize the promise of this moment -- ideas about tax reform, ideas about a balanced approach to regulation that will promote rather undermine growth, ideas that will help encourage businesses to invest in America and American jobs at a time when they are holding nearly 2 trillion dollars on their books," he said. "I want to discuss our shared mission of building a strong economy for the long run." The President noted that the U.S. Senate was poised on Wednesday to approve tax cuts and unemployment insurance, "putting the House of Representatives in the position to send me this critical economic package so I can sign it into law." The country cannot afford to let the legislation fall victim to delay or defeat, he said, "so I urge members of Congress to pass these tax cuts as swiftly as possible." "Getting that done is an essential ingredient in spurring economic growth over the short run," he added.

Saba