Obama: Economic Inequality Has Deepened

2014-02-02

U.S. President Barack Obama says economic inequality has deepened in America, even though the country has experienced four years of economic growth with 8 million new private sector jobs.

Obama said in his weekly address Saturday it is "time to restore opportunity for all people."

He said the opportunity agenda he presented in his recent state of the union address has four parts -- more new jobs, training to fill those jobs, a world-class education for every child, and a liveable wage for every man and woman.

President Obama said implementing the agenda would require cooperation from Congress, but the president, who leads the Democratic Party, said he would "take steps" on his own when he could to expand opportunity for more families.

In the Republican address, four members of the House of Representatives where their party is the majority, urged Obama to support bills on jobs, medical research, compensation and energy. Representative Fred Upton said the Senate, controlled by Democrats, was standing in the way.

Source: Voice of America