(read more)

President Obama got an earful from the House Republican Conference Friday afternoon during a question and answer session at the GOP retreat in Baltimore that started off on an amicable note and turned contentious.   "I want us to have a constructive debate," Mr. Obama said in his opening remarks, "the only thing I don't want and here I am listening to the American people and I think they don't want it either, is for Washington to continue being so Washington like."    But the conciliatory note from the President soon gave way to  testy set of the exchanges as controversial issues such as health care reform and government spending were brought up. (read more)

In his State of the Union address earlier this week, President Obama said creating jobs was the number one agenda for his administration this year. Friday, we learn a little bit more about what that means and how he intends to bolster the nation's employment numbers when he visits a Baltimore business to propose his "Small Business Jobs and Wages Tax Cut." The proposal, which would apply only to the current year and be retroactive, seeks to incentivize companies to not only hire new employees but to also raise their wages and/or expand hours for current employees. (read more)

Fox News Senior White House Correspondent spoke to Senior Adviser David Axelrod prior to the President's first State of the Union Address. Read about what Axelrod had to say here.  Or watch the full interview here:

Fox News Senior White House Correspondent Major Garrett wanted to hear from YOU about what the President should address in tonight’s State of the Union Address. The volume of responses has been overwhelming!  Comments on "Tell Major" have officially been closed, but there will be another opportunity to “Ask Major” … keep reading … By far and away, the economy is the critical issue that you have the most concerns about.   There are countless calls for fiscal discipline, not just for the federal government, but state and local too. Gary writes, “The government has to get out of the way by reducing your business overhead (taxes), incentivize business expansion, reward investment. Subsidizing state and local jobs does not grow our economy; it actually grows the overhead that our economy has to support through taxes and therefore retards the only true engine of U.S. growth -- private businesses.” (read more)

First Lady Michelle Obama joined military wives for lunch today to announce  increased federal spending for military support programs.  The more than 3% increase -- includes money for counseling and support to spouses and families, spousal career development,  as well as military child care and youth programs for military kids. The increase, which brings the total federal investment in such programs to $8.8 billion, is part of the President's 2011 budget which is to be released on February 1st.  (read more)

Below is a transcript of Senior White House Correspondent Major Garrett's questions at Tuesday's briefing with Press Secretary Robert Gibbs:   Major: A couple on the freeze and then a couple on security questions.  During the campaign, specifically on October 7th, when John McCain during one of the debates suggested to then-candidate Obama, "Why don't we -- why don't we hold harmless nonsecurity spending and entitlements and have a domestic discretionary freeze?" candidate Obama said that would be punting responsibility, it would be using a hatchet instead of a scalpel.  Is he changed his position on that? Gibbs: What the president has proposed, as I said to others, is a process by which every family in America has to make budgetary decisions: what they have to spend money on versus what they'd like to spend money on but they can't afford in tough times. (read more)

The headlines from the daily briefing with Press Secretary Robert Gibbs:  

-  The President is still working on the State of the Union address.  Gibbs wouldn't say whether 'don't ask don't tell' will be mentioned in the speech. -What the President will discuss more than anything is the economy, notes Gibbs. - "If Congress can put the coalition together on the way forward," then the White House will pursue immigration reform, says Gibbs. - Gibbs admits that the President's proposed spending freeze is "not intended to solve all of our problems." (read more)

Fox News has learned that two Ft. Hood police officers will be the First Lady's guests will be at Wednesday night's State of the Union address. Sgts. Kimberly Munley and Mark Todd will join Mrs. Obama in her box overlooking the House floor.  It is a long standing tradition for the First Lady to invite special guests to sit with her during a State of the Union address.  The two police officers were responsible for stopping the November 2009 attack at Fort Hood, Texas, for which Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan is accused of killing 13 people. In addition to Munley and Todd, there will be four other military related guests seated with the First Lady.   They will include a a recently retired Iraq veteran who was shot in the face, recovered and is now working at the Department of Transportation in Colorado;  an Army soldier recently back from Iraq;  and two National Guard spouses (one of whom is a Marine veteran herself and is finishing her education under the Montgomery GI Bill.) Stay tuned to Fox News and Row 2, Seat 4 for more details.  We'll be getting Mrs. Obama's full guest list Wednesday morning.