Updated

A collection of mayors from around the country told White House reporters Thursday that Congress needs to back President Obama on his various jobs initiatives, with one mayor getting particularly colorful.

Comparing Congress to the captain of a now-infamous doomed Italian cruise ship, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said, "There's been a lot of focus on the [Costa] Concordia where the captain jumped the ship before doing anything to help the passengers on that ship as it was sinking. Well, the economy is sinking right now and the Congress has jumped the ship and they're gonna have to get right back on that ship and help to right its course."

The entirely Democratic contingent urged Congress to take up Mr. Obama's policies to get Americans back to work.