Obama Scolds Congress on Gridlock: Wants Compromise Instead of Political Games

President Obama scolded Congress Saturday, urging lawmakers to cast aside scoring "political points" and focus on the unfinished business of improving the economy, protecting jobs and helping new home-buyers.

In his Saturday address, he blamed Republican leaders for the gridlock and said "dreary and familiar politics" is getting in the way of the key legislation, including a bill to remove the $75 million cap on liability for oil companies responsible for disasters such as the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Senate GOP Leaders are using procedural steps to block "a simple up or down vote" on key bills, he said. "The Republican leadership won't even allow this legislation to come up for a vote and if this obstruction continues, unemployed Americans will see their [jobless] benefits stop. Teachers and firefighters will lose their jobs. Families will pay more for their first home."

The biggest deal for Obama in the short term is a stalled bill that would extend unemployment benefits, renew popular tax breaks and provide aid to struggling state governments. Republicans say the legislation is not paid for.

In the Republican address, Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), criticized Obama for his response to the oil spill, including such steps as the drilling moratorium which Wicker said would cost jobs and raise the price of energy. "I'm glad President Obama is finally putting this catastrophe at the top of his agenda, but his response has been slow," Wicker said.