Obama calls on lawmakers to end gridlock

President Barack Obama walks along the Colonnade at the White House in Washington, Friday, June 15, 2012, before heading to Chicago for the weekend with his family. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

President Barack Obama walks along the Colonnade at the White House in Washington, Friday, June 15, 2012, before heading to Chicago for the weekend with his family. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? President Barack Obama is calling on Congress to end partisan gridlock and pass proposals he says would put Americans back to work.

In his weekly radio and Internet address, Obama says GOP lawmakers "haven't lifted a finger" on many of the ideas he sent to Congress last year. He says there's no excuse for inaction just because it's an election year.

The president says every problem the nation faces is "within our power to solve." He says, "What's lacking is our politics."

In the Republican address, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who survived a recall election last week, calls on Obama to make tough decisions to tackle the nation's debt and deficit. And he blames the president for seeing big government as a solution to the nation's problems.

___

Online:

Obama address: www.whitehouse.gov

GOP address: www.youtube.com/gopweeklyaddress

Associated Press

china aircraft carrier barbara walters most fascinating person 2011 golden globe nominations los angeles clippers los angeles clippers charlize theron telenav