"Our recovery will be strengthened or weakened based on the choice that now rests with Congress", Obama said in his radio and Internet address. "I strongly urge members of both parties to pass this plan".

He acknowledged that the tax deal is far from perfect but a good deal overall for Americans.

Obama announced that the White House and Republicans had reached a compromise that would extend the soon-to- expire Bush-era tax cuts at all income levels for another two years, while extending emergency jobless benefits through 2011.

The framework agreement had sparked criticism from some congressional Democratic leaders over the past days, who believed that Obama did not fight hard enough and his conciliatory moves gave an olive branch to the GOP too quickly.

Democratic lawmakers oppose to extend tax cut for the wealthiest Americans, a content in the plan that Republicans support.

Obama said that it was understandable that many fellow Democrats are not happy about what he negotiated with the GOP.

He said he was confident that Congress, where voting is expected to begin on the measure next week ", will do the right thing".