Washington  - US President Barack Obama headed to the US Congress Tuesday for a rare meeting with opposition Republican lawmakers to convince them of the merits of his 825-billion-dollar economic stimulus package.

But despite the meeting, Republican leaders have reportedly urged their members to oppose the measure when it comes up for a vote in the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

Obama has sought bipartisan support for the legislation, which includes a mix of tax cuts and government spending and is the centrepiece of his efforts to revive the struggling US economy.

"I don't expect 100-per-cent agreement from my Republican colleagues, but I do hope that we can all put politics aside and do the American people's business right now," Obama said after a meeting with the House's Republican legislators.

"The main message I have is that the statistics every day underscore the urgency of the economic situation," Obama said.

Consumer confidence plummeted to record lows earlier Tuesday and a series of US companies on Monday announced more than 50,000 new job cuts, the latest indicators of a deepening US recession.

Obama held separate closed-door meetings with Republicans from the lower House and the upper Senate. House Republicans had requested the meeting in a letter to the president. Obama also met with the leadership of both parties in Congress last week.

Democratic lawmakers hold strong majorities in both legislative chambers and could likely get the stimulus passed on their own, but Obama's push for Republican support follows through on an election campaign promise to govern from the centre.

Republicans have argued the legislation includes too much government spending and too few tax cuts, and will balloon an already soaring US federal deficit.

"Clearly there are some differences that were expressed," said John Boehner, leader of House Republicans, who reportedly urged his fellow legislators to oppose the bill even ahead of the meeting with Obama.

Boehner added: "The president is sincere in wanting to work with us wanting to hear our ideas and wanting to find some common ground."

About one third of the 825-billion-dollar bill is currently devoted to tax cuts. The rest will include spending projects in infrastructure, renewable energy, transport, health and education, as well as aid to states suffering from serious budget shortfalls.

Obama has said the bill will save or create 3-4 million jobs and update the country's antiquated infrastructure. More than 2.5 million jobs were lost in 2008 and the unemployment rate rose to 7.2 per cent in December.

While they welcomed Obama's overtures, some Republicans complained that too few of their proposals became part of the House legislation that will be voted on Wednesday.

"House Democrats have completely ignored the president's call for bipartisan cooperation," said Republican congressman Mike Pence.

Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic speaker of the House, said Republicans would have plenty of time to add their ideas to the legislation despite Wednesday's vote.

"Our bill tomorrow ... will be the first legislative step," Pelosi said, pointing to the Senate's own deliberations, which will likely be followed by joint House-Senate talks to work out a compromise bill between the two chambers.

"The opportunity for comment is there all along the way," Pelosi said in a conference call with reporters.

Democratic congressional leaders have vowed to get a stimulus bill to the president's desk before the US President's Day holiday in mid- February. dpa