The House of Representatives casts the first votes today on his stimulus bill, and he's about to meet with leaders of some of the nation's biggest companies to discuss the faltering economy. But it's the District's poor relationship with frozen precipitation that seemed to be most troubling to President Obama this morning.

"My children's school was canceled today, because of what? Some ice," Obama joked this morning in the Roosevelt Room, just before a meeting with the CEOs of Motorola, Google, IBM and other companies. "As my children pointed out, in Chicago school is never canceled."

The president said he's going to have to instill some "some flinty Chicago toughness" into Washingtonians, who today are grappling with a perilous mix of snow, sleet and ice.

Obama did briefly comment on today's recovery plan vote, saying he is "confident we're going to get it passed." He's due to comment at greater length after the meeting.