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Obama: Too many Americans still out of work

President Barack Obama acknowledged Monday that the economy continues to struggle and too many Americans are still struggling to find jobs.
Image: Barack Obama
President Barack Obama makes a statement on the economy in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington.Susan Walsh / AP
/ Source: msnbc.com news services

President Barack Obama acknowledged Monday that the economy continues to struggle and too many Americans are still struggling to find jobs.

He also took Republicans to task for what he said was partisan politics that are standing in the way of passing a bill aimed at helping small businesses.

The bill "has been held up by a partisan minority that won't even allow it to go for a vote," Obama said in brief remarks on the economy from the White House Rose Garden. Obama spoke shortly after meeting with his economic advisers.

"That makes no sense. This bill is fully paid for, it will not add to the deficit, there is no reason to hold it except for partisan politics," the president added.

He also said that he'll also have other specific ideas on the nation's teetering economy in the days and weeks ahead.

In a week likely to be dominated by foreign policy, Obama is trying to show he's still minding the economy after his 10-day vacation in Martha's Vineyard.

A string of weak economic reports in recent weeks has fed fears that the economy would fall back into recession, only slightly offset by Monday's government report that consumer spending had increased in July after four down months.

"Every single day, I'm pushing this economy forward, repairing the damage that's been done to the middle class over the past decade and promoting the growth we need to get out people back to work," Obama said in his statement.

Obama said action on the package of small business tax cuts and credit incentives is "one thing we know that we should do" as soon as possible. Republicans have been blocking the bill, calling it misguided.