President Barack Obama, accompanied by Vice President Joe Biden, talks Tuesday about the importance of the payroll-tax cut and jobless-benefits extension compromise that bipartisan House and Senate conferees reached last week.

President Barack Obama on Wednesday signed into law the agreement passed by Congress last week to extend the payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits while preventing a cut in payments to Medicare doctors.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama Tuesday thanked everyday Americans who wrote to Congress demanding an extension of the payroll tax cut.

Relishing a political victory, President Barack Obama said Tuesday that Congress quot;did the right thingquot; by extending payroll tax cuts for millions of Americans. He urged lawmakers to push forward on more measures, from assistance to struggling homeowners to increased taxes on the wealthy, saying the looming election was no excuse for inaction in Washington.

President Barack Obama urged Saturday that Congress extend a payroll-tax cut as the clock was ticking on the time lawmakers have to act or see taxes increase for millions of working Americans.