Obama says Congress needs to act on jobs

President Barack Obama gestures as he speaks at a campaign event at Chicago Cultural Center, Friday, June 1, 2012, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

President Barack Obama gestures as he speaks at a campaign event at Chicago Cultural Center, Friday, June 1, 2012, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? President Barack Obama is urging Congress to act on a number of bills he says will accelerate the economy. He says the nation has responsibilities that are "bigger than an election."

In his weekly radio and Internet address, Obama says Congress could pass bills to help states prevent more layoffs, put construction workers on the job and help small business owners hire workers.

It follows the May jobs report, which showed the nation added only 69,000 jobs. Unemployment increased to 8.2 percent.

Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas says Democrats are promoting "gimmicks" and unless Congress and Obama act, Americans will deal with a tax increase of nearly $500 billion. He says the tax hike could push the nation back into recession and urged Obama to support tax reform.

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Online:

Obama address: www.whitehouse.gov

GOP address: www.youtube.com/gopweeklyaddress

Associated Press

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