Gibbs: WH jobs package to cost about $100 billion

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs on Sunday predicted the Democrats' forthcoming jobs package could cost about $100 billion.

While Gibbs provided few specifics as to what that package might include, he stressed it was essential for economic recovery, and that it would ultimately "send a powerful message to the American people."

"I can think of no better message to send the American people at the beginning of this year and at the beginning of this decade, the Democrats and Republicans will put aside their differences and work together to pass a tax credit for small businesses, to increase lending for small businesses, to increase our investment in infrastructure and create more jobs," Gibbs told CNN's "State of the Union."

Presumably, the Democrats' forthcoming job package will include many of the proposals the president has outlined over the past week, including a plan to extend tax credits to businesses that hire unemployed workers or offer more pay to those they currently hire. That proposal would comprise about $30 billion of the $100 billion price tag Gibbs revealed on Sunday.

---