With signs of improvement in the economy, US President Barack Obama today said he wants to maximise the pace of recovery to ensure every American benefits from it.
"We’ve seen the economy improve. We want to maximise the pace of our recovery, but most importantly, we want to make sure that every American is able to benefit from that recovery, that we’re not leaving anybody behind and everybody is getting a fair shot," Obama said.
At the first Cabinet meeting of the year, Obama said he was pleased to see the House and the Senate agree to a budget and to put forward a bill which will fund the Government at levels that allow them to take some important steps to provide the services and the help that Americans need in order to get ahead in this economy.
He urged that Congress pass the funding measure as quickly as possible to offer budget certainty for Government agencies and departments.
"Although we’ve seen improvements in the economy and job creation in our economy, I think we all know that there are a lot of hardworking Americans out there who are desperately looking for a job, and unemployment insurance is not only good for them and necessary for them, but it’s also good for our economy as a whole and will actually accelerate our growth if we go ahead and get that done," he said.
Obama listed immigration reform as a major piece of unfinished business from last year.
Notwithstanding the cooperation from the Congress, Obama warned he would wield power alone if lawmakers blocked his policy plans.
"We are not just going to be waiting for a legislation in order to make sure that we’re providing Americans the kind of help that they need," he said.
"I’ve got a pen and I’ve got a phone, I can use that pen to sign executive orders and take executive actions and administrative actions that move the ball forward in helping to make sure our kids are getting the best education possible and making sure that our businesses are getting the kind of support and help they need to grow and advance to make sure that people are getting the skills that they need to get those jobs that our businesses are creating," Obama said.
"I’ve got a phone that allows me to convene Americans from every walk of life — non-profits, businesses, the private sector, universities — to try to bring more and more Americans together around what I think is a unifying theme: making sure that this is a country where if you work hard, you can make it.
"So one of the things that I’m going to be talking to my Cabinet about is how do we use all the tools available to us, not just legislation, in order to advance a mission that I think unifies all Americans-the belief that everybody has got to take responsibility, everybody has got to work hard, but if you do, that you can support a family and meet the kinds of obligations that you have to yourself and your family but also to your communities and to your nation," Obama said.