can find good jobs and america's leading the global competition that will determine our success in the 21st century. >> susie: president obama goes on the stump for jobs tapping g.e.'s c.e.o. as a key advisor. the move comes as the big you're watching "nightly business report" for friday, january 21. this is "nightly business report" with susie gharib and tom hudson. "nightly business report" is made possible by: this program is made possible by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. captioning sponsored by wpbt >> susie: good evening, everyone. my colleague tom hudson is off tonight. another business-friendly announcement from the white house today. president obama named general electric's c.e.o. to head up a new jobs council and also made him his chief outside economic advisor. speaking at a g.e. plant in schnectady new york, the president said he chose jeff immelt because he can find new ways to promote private sector hiring. >> the past two years were about pulling our economy back from the brink. the next two years, our job now, is putting our economy into overdrive. >> susie: immelt's appointment came just hours after g.e. reported

s lindsey hilsum. >> woodruff: next we look at how america's cities are faring in this economic climate. several of the nation's mayors met with president obama, vice president biden, and national economic council director gene sperling at the white house today. the economic crunch facing cities across the country dominated the agenda. joining us now are two who attended today's meeting. mick cornett is the republican mayor of oklahoma city. and the democratic mayor of charlotte, north carolina, anthony foxx. gentlemen, thank you both for being with us. to you first, mayor cornett, tell us what the message was that you and other mayors brought the president. >> well, i think of acknowledgement that we have a lot of work to do. unemployment-- although it may be very low in oklahoma city-- is still high across the country and it's not in oklahoma city's best interest for people in the country to be suffering so. and there are a lot of cities on the east coast that have deferred maintenance going forward and they won't be able to get out of that mess on their own. >> woodruff: and mayor foxx, this is the time when the federal government is as st

obama government has this strategy which feeds into. is what you're doing is reinforcing america's stature and strength in asia while retaining china. if i were as calculating person in china, i would say this s a dumb policy. we have to stop doing this type of thing. and so the thing to watch after mr. hu jintao's visit is will they stop, will he stop doing this kind of thing? is done. is hurting, i think this is not u.k.etention of the chinese leaders. it cost them. i think this topic i think about, has done a very good job very quietly intervening in various ways and saying, we're not going to allow this, it's not going to happen. and i think it's been quite effective. and so let's watch. let's see what happens. if we have a situation where the military is out of control in china, if it's been being met we know to rise, then it could be more dangerous situation. but at this point i would have to agree with mr. wortzel, i think the civilian leaders to have ultimate control. when you look at their cost and benefits of his kind of behavior hurts them. so i think they have to call it back. >> make you very much. and thank you, madam speaker. i yield back to make of m time. >> pleased to recogn