Republicans to fight second 'stimulus'

WASHINGTON (NBC) - In Washington, there is a growing debate about whether the President's stimulus plan is working quickly enough or working at all.

The economy continues to lose jobs despite a nearly $800 billion investment by Congress.

Republicans are gearing up to fight a second stimulus, even though the White House said there is not one.

On Interstate 430 in Arkansas one sign that the President's stimulus plan is creating some jobs. But five months after Congress passed the $787 billion plan, the hoped-for flood of jobs is barely a trickle. Three Democratic governors said the pace is picking up.

"If you're frustrated, so am I," said Gov. Ed Rendell , D-Pennsylvania. "I believe that this program will in fact have a significant effect in not only job retention, but in job creation - but remember, it's just barely July."

Along with Rendell, Gov. Deval Patrick , D-Massachusetts, believes it will take longer as well.

"It's way too soon in my view to unfurl the 'mission accomplished' banner but we're on the right track," said Gov. Patrick.

However, Republicans disagree.

"Every American has the right to ask where are the jobs that were promised," said Rep. Virginia Foxx , R-North Carolina.

With unemployment now at 9.5 percent, GOP lawmakers claim Democrats are laying the groundwork for a second stimulus.

"I think it's an admission on the part of the administration that, you know, their stimulus plan is not working," said Rep. John Boehner , R-Ohio.

Even with all of these allegations, the White House budget office insists there is no second stimulus.

"No one in the administration is talking about second stimulus at this point," said Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Robert Nabors . "What we're focused on right now is implementing the recovery act that Congress has already passed."

As he travels overseas, the President is being forced to defend his economic response here at home. Obama insists the stimulus plan will work, but may take some time.

As President Obama attended the G-8 summit outside Rome, world leaders agreed it was too early to start rolling back their own stimulus measures.