Core and Group Health

Facing a frustrated public and a skeptical Congress, President Barack Obama will pitch at least $300 billion in jobs proposals aimed at getting Americans back to work quickly and forcing Republicans to take a share of the responsibility for solving the country's economic woes.

The number of people seeking unemployment benefits ticked up slightly last week, evidence that the job market isn't improving.

America's sickly economy can be healed with jobs, jobs and more jobs. On that, everyone agrees. Figuring out how to produce them is what is stumping everyone.

First, do no harm. Economists say the most important part of the jobs plan President Barack Obama will unveil Thursday night is the renewal of two measures already in place a cut in Social Security taxes and emergency aid for the unemployed.

The powerful new congressional panel assigned to tame the deficit will have to squeeze Medicare and Medicaid for any chance of success. But health care industries that depend on those programs have invested millions over the years to woo its members.

Massachusetts health insurers would be required to pay lower rates to some of the state's most expensive health care providers, while boosting rates for some of the lowest-paid providers, under legislation introduced Tuesday by a top lawmaker.