Obama says expects jobs bill vote by end-October

WASHINGTON Oct 3 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Monday he expects the U.S. Congress to vote on his $447 billion jobs package by the end of October.

"It's been several weeks now since I sent up the American Jobs Act, and as I have been saying on the road, I want it back. I am ready to sign it," he told reporters.

"My expectation is that now that we are in the month of October, that we will schedule a vote before the end of this month," Obama said, adding he would speak with congressional leaders Harry Reid, Mitch McConnell, John Boehner and Nancy Pelosi on the bill and its vote timing. (Reporting by Laura MacInnis, Editing by Sandra Maler)