Obama Faults Hill for 'Familiar Politics'

Frustrated by Congress getting continually bogged down in partisan politics, President Obama used his weekly radio address to remind congressional Republicans that they need to move on legislation that is crucial to economic recovery. It was a rare occasion of Obama’s devoting an entire speech to criticism of Congress’s divisive nature. "I was disappointed this week to see a dreary and familiar politics get in the way of our ability to move forward on a series of critical issues that have a direct impact on people's lives," Obama said in the speech, released Saturday. The president is eagerly awaiting progress on bills to extend unemployment benefits and provide emergency federal aid to states with calamitous finances. He also pointed out that he has 136 nominees for federal posts awaiting confirmation. "The vast majority already have support from both parties," Obama said. "But most of them are seeing their nominations intentionally delayed by Republican leaders, or even blocked altogether."