Obama says won't dictate to Congress on stimulus

By Caren Bohan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President-elect Barack Obama said in an interview broadcast on Sunday he would not try to dictate to lawmakers the details of an economic stimulus package but would work closely with them to hammer out a plan.

"We're going to have a collaborative, consultative process with Congress over the next few days," Obama said on ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos," just days after his top aides visited Capitol Hill to allay lawmakers' concerns about the roughly $800 billion package.

"We're not trying to jam anything down people's throats," he said.

Obama takes over from President George W. Bush on January 20 amid a deepening economic crisis. Government figures last week showed the unemployment rate surged in December to 7.2 percent, after a year in which employers slashed 2.6 million jobs from their payrolls, the most since 1945.

Obama wants passage of a stimulus plan by mid-February, saying it is crucial to jump-starting the economy.

Although most lawmakers agree with Obama that drastic action is needed, he has faced skepticism among some members of the Democratic-led Congress about aspects of his plan, such as a proposal for tax breaks to businesses to encourage hiring.

Some Democrats have said such proposals, as well as Obama's plans for $1,000 tax cuts for middle-class families, may do less to stimulate growth than government spending on such things likes new highways, bridges and schools.

Obama said in the ABC interview the bulk of his plan would go toward spending on such public works projects and on initiatives like laying down broadband lines and making homes and government buildings more energy efficient.