President Obama said Wednesday that machinery giant Caterpillar Inc. plans to rehire some of its laid-off workers if Congress approves a sweeping stimulus bill. He sought to offer a clear example of how the legislation would help. His mention of Caterpillar, which has announced it will cut more than 20,000 jobs, also came a day before he was heading to Peoria, Ill., to visit the company's workers. Said Obama: "Today, the chairman and CEO of Caterpillar [Jim Owens] said that if the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan passes, his company would be able to rehire some of those employees." A Caterpillar spokesman would not comment. NEWS SERVICES

JINDAL TO GIVE GOP RESPONSE TO OBAMA'S FEB. 24 SPEECH

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, left, will get another prominent GOP role this month when he delivers the Republican response to Obama's first speech to Congress. Obama plans to speak to a joint session of the House and Senate on Feb. 24 about the problems facing the nation. The speech will be similar to a State of the Union address. Jindal will give the GOP response in a nationally televised address immediately afterward, congressional leaders said. Jindal, 37, said he was honored. Then, on March 24, he gives the keynote at a fundraiser for the National Republican Congressional Committee. NEWS SERVICES