WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama, setting a tough new tone for his re-election campaign, challenged Republicans on Thursday to explain to the American people why they oppose his plan to create jobs and rebuild U.S.

Judge Sharon Blackburn upheld parts of the controversial immigration law and struck down others Wednesday.

[Click here to read judge's ruling (PDF)]

Several contentious sections have been struck down by the judge. A section making it a misdemeanor for an illegal immigrant to apply for or solicit work was enjoined.

Also, the section that many churches felt was unfair, not being allowed to conceal or harbor or transport illegal aliens, was removed.

Claiming payments to illegal workers on taxes and keeping an illegal worker while failing to hire a citizen were also enjoined.

Two big issues in the law will remain.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Republican-dominated House approved a bill Thursday that would undercut the government's labor dispute with Boeing Co., wading into a case that has angered business groups and become a major political issue in the Republican presidential primary.

The measure, approved on a 238 to 186 vote, would ban the National Labor Relations Board from ordering any employer to shut down plants or relocate work, even if a company violates labor laws.

While the bill is not expected to get a vote in the Democratic-run Senate, Republicans are trying to keep up pressure on the agency over a move they claim interferes with legitimate business decisions.

Republicans and their allies in the business community have gone after the NLRB for more than a year, as the agency has issued a spate of decisions and rules