President Barack Obama is pledging to use executive actions and the bully pulpit to push economic policies even if they get gummed up in Congress.
Before meeting with his Cabinet Tuesday, Obama said he planned to speak to top administration officials about “how to use all the tools” at the administration's disposal to promote ways to maintain the economic recovery.
"One of the things that I will be emphasizing in this meeting is the fact that we are not just going to be waiting for legislation in order to make sure that we are providing Americans the kind of help that they need," he said. "I’ve got a pen, and I’ve got a phone."
The pen, he said, can be used to sign executive orders, while the phone means calls to non-profit, universities, and private sector organizations that will rally towards a “unifying theme” of economic mobility and fairness.
"Overall, the message to my Cabinet -- and that will be amplified in our State of the Union -- is that we need all hands on deck to build on the recovery that we’re already seeing,” he said. “The economy is improving but it could be improving even faster."