called on Congress to pass a jobs proposal that would prevent layoffs and rehire public workers like police, firefighters and teachers.

“The truth of the matter is 3 million jobs over the last 27 months, over 800,000 just this year alone," the president told reporters. "The private sector is doing fine. Where we’re seeing weaknesses in our economy have to do with state and local government."

At a campaign stop in Iowa, Romney blasted that assertion.

"For the president of the United States to stand up and say the private sector is doing fine is going to go down in history as an extraordinary miscalculation and misunderstanding by a president who's out of touch," the GOP hopeful charged.

"And his answer for economic vitality, by the way, was, of course, pushing aside the private sector, which he said is doing fine," Romney continued. "Instead, he wants to add more to government. He wants another stimulus. He wants to hire more government workers. He says we need more firemen, more policeman, more teachers."

"Did he not get the message of Wisconsin? The American people did! It's time for us to cut back on government!"