Obama calls on Congress for economic aid

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- U.S. President-elect Barack Obama said Saturday that members of the U.S. Congress should begin implementing a rescue plan for the nation's economy.

The junior senator from Illinois, who resigned from the U.S. Senate effective Sunday, said during the weekly Democratic Radio Address that his fellow members of Congress should address the ongoing impact from the nation's economic woes during a lame duck session next week, The Hill reported.

"I urge them to pass at least a down-payment on a rescue plan that will create jobs, relieve the squeeze on families, and help get the economy growing again," the Democrat said. "In particular, we cannot afford to delay providing help for the more than one million Americans who will have exhausted their unemployment insurance by the end of this year."

The president-elect vowed to make a second economic stimulus package for the nation his main priority once entering the Oval Office if Congress does not approve the proposal during its lame duck session, The Hill said.

Obama also used the radio broadcast to applaud U.S. President George W. Bush for helping organize a meeting this weekend of the G20 counties to help address worldwide economic problems.