Obama urges pressure on Congress

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama Saturday urged Americans to tell Congress "it's time to end the gridlock and start tackling issues that really matter."

In his weekly radio and Internet address, the president repeated several themes from his State of the Union address, in which he said he "laid out a blueprint for an economy built to last -- an economy built on American manufacturing, American energy, skills for American workers, and a renewal of American values."

Back in Washington after a tour of several states where he promoted those ideas, Obama said he saw "people who work hard and believe in each other."

"They believe in the America that's within our reach," he said. "But they're not sure that the right thing will get done in Washington this year, or next year, or the year after that. And frankly, when you look at some of the things that go on in this town, who could blame them for being a little cynical?"

Without mentioning him by name, Obama referred to a remark made Thursday by Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, who said during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing he intends to block all of Obama's judicial appointments this year "unless and until (Obama) rescinds his unconstitutional recess appointments." Lee was complaining in particular about the appointment of Richard Cordray to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

"For the most part, it's not that this senator thinks these nominees are unqualified," the president said Saturday. "In fact, all of the judicial nominees being blocked have bipartisan support. And almost 90 percent have unanimous support from the Judiciary Committee."

Obama stipulated that "neither party has been blameless in tactics like these. But it's time for both parties to put an end to them."

He once again asked that Congress adopt a rule allowing "a simple up-or-down vote within 90 days" on judicial and public service nominations.

"Tell your member of Congress that it's time to end the gridlock and start tackling the issues that really matter," the president said.