President Obama: Congress Left Town With Unfinished Business

[cal04]

Source: AP

President Barack Obama says he's taking action on his own because Congress is doing so little for working families.

In his weekly radio and Internet address, Obama says the economy is improving. He says decisions made now can ensure things keep improving.

Obama says he's been pushing policies addressing jobs, student loans and wages. He says all of the policies would help families feel more stable, but all have been blocked by Republicans.

Obama says Congress left town for their August vacation with unfinished business. He says he hopes when lawmakers get back, Washington can join together in common purpose.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/obama-speak-white-house-friday-afternoon-24810083

---

Weekly Address: It's Time for Congress to Help the Middle Class
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/08/01/weekly-address-its-time-congress-help-middle-class

(snip)
House Republicans actually got together this week and voted to sue me for taking actions on my own. And then they left town for the month without settling a bunch of unfinished business that matters to working families across America.

The bottom line is this – we’ve come a long way these past five and a half years. Our challenges are nowhere near as daunting as they were back then. But imagine how much farther along our economy would be – how much stronger our country would be – if Congress would do its job.

(snip)
I’ll never stop trying to work with both parties to get things moving faster for the middle class. And I could use your help. If you see your Member of Congress around home this month, tell him or her what’s on your mind. Ask them why they haven’t passed bills to raise the minimum wage or help with student loans or enact fair pay for women.

And when they return from vacation next month, instead of trying to pass partisan bills on party lines, hopefully we can come together with the sense of common purpose that you expect. And in the meantime, I will never stop doing whatever I can, whenever I can, not only to make sure that our economy succeeds, but that people like you succeed.

[merrily]

1. I really liked that speech. However, I don't think sharing your view with a Republican is going to

change his or her vote or behavior.

[BumRushDaShow]

3. " I don't think sharing your view with a Republican"

The address was not directed to them. It's directed to the U.S. electorate who can remove the congress critter if they so choose.

[merrily]

4. I omitted the word representative. I don't think your (the average constituent) sharing your view

with Republican representative is going to change his or vote or behavior.

Who did you think I meant by "your" though?

[BumRushDaShow]

5. I think the point is to

go after the few "moderates" left in swing districts (there were 5 rethugs who voted against suing the President and there were about 22 - 24 out there who did not want to shut down the government last year but went along because they were not pushed) by encouraging constituent participation. And then if rebuffed, those constituents need to get out there and vote for a different candidate if that rethug refuses to go along. There are far too many people sitting in red states (even if gerrymandered) who refuse to engage.

There are people where I work who didn't bother in 2010 and they were in the district that had previously been Sestak's (and the district went rethug after that election and was subsequently redrawn to be gerrymandered into a centipede-like configuration).

[Demeter]

2. The business of government is NEVER done: how many fires were left raging?

That includes actual fires in the West, by the way.

[SwankyXomb]

6. Mr. President

It is within your Constitutional powers to call them back into session, and keep them there until they actually do their jobs.

[blkmusclmachine]

9. He'd never do it. Not "bi-partisan" enough for his taste.

Weak.

[merrily]

14. In extraordinary circumstances.

Hard to argue that Congress not have accomplished diddly squat while in its regular session is extraordinary.

[Fred Sanders]

7. Fucking media is refusing to state the truth that the "legislation" is hurl worthy useless.

[blkmusclmachine]

8. More kumbaya.

[SummerSnow]

10. Vacation ...

[quadrature]

11. ?? Senate vote to go into recess, does anyone have ...

the roll call?

let me guess

1-yea
0-no

[Earth_First]

12. Were they ever present in the first place?

Suit coats stuffed with currency and diamond cufflinks...

[winter is coming]

13. The only "business" this Congress does is the kind you're supposed to put in a disposal bag.

GOTV, so we have fewer piles of poo in DC.

[kellywestlund]

15. Unacceptable

This congress has been the most unproductive in the history of our country. Let's rally and hold them accountable- the ones not doing their jobs need to go. Let's elect progressive, hardworking candidates into these seats.