U.S. President Barack Obama said
Saturday the United States needed to do more than just reclaim the
jobs lost during the recession, calling for more action to rebuild
the U.S. economy.
"Our mission isn't just to put people back to work - it's to
rebuild an economy where that work pays; an economy in which
everyone who works hard has the chance to get ahead," Obama said in
his weekly address.
His words came after the latest weak job data on Friday revived
fears of the recovery's fragility. The unemployment rate for June
stayed at 8.2 percent with a meager job creation of 8,000.
The figure offered no relief in sight for an unemployment rate
that has held above 8 percent for more than three years, but echoed
recent data suggesting the economy was losing steam.
The disappointing job report clouded Obama's re-election
prospects, with the economy dominating the campaign from the start.
Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney seized the chance to
attack Obama's economic stewardship Friday, saying the 8.2 percent
unemployment rate was "unacceptably high" and the government needed
to reduce regulations and lower tax rates to stimulate the economy.
Obama said a bill he signed into law Friday would keep thousands
of construction workers on the job and help students by preventing
interest rates on federal student loans from doubling this year.
"Those steps will make a real difference in the lives of millions
of Americans. But make no mistake: we've got more to do," he said.
