The White House Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release June 16, 2012

WEEKLY ADDRESS: Ending the Stalemate in Washington

WASHINGTON, DC In this weeks address, President Obama told the American people that the stalemate in Washington is holding our economy back during this make-or-break moment for the middle class. The Presidents jobs bill could create more than one million additional jobs if Congress were to drop its opposition to common sense ideas like giving small businesses tax cuts for hiring more workers, helping states keep thousands of teachers, firefighters and police officers on the job, and putting thousands of construction workers back to work. Its time for Congress to end this partisan gridlock and work with the President on behalf of the American people to help grow the economy and support new jobs. Remarks of President Barack Obama Weekly Address The White House June 16, 2012 Over the last few weeks, Ive been talking a lot about Americas economic future. Ive told you how I believe we should go about creating strong, sustained growth; how we should pay down our long-term debt in a balanced way; and most of all, what we should do right now to create good, middle-class jobs, so people who work hard can get ahead. This isnt some abstract debate or trivial argument. Ive said that this is the defining issue of our time, and I mean it. Ive said that this is a make-or-break moment for the middle class, and I believe it. The decisions we make over the next few years will have an enormous impact on the country we live in, and the one we pass on to our children. Right now, were still fighting our way back from the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. The economy is growing again, but its not growing fast enough. Our businesses have created 4.3 million new jobs over the last 27 months, but were not creating them fast enough. And were facing some pretty serious headwinds from the effects of the recent spike in gas prices, to the financial crisis in Europe. But heres the thing. We have the answers to these problems. We have plenty of big ideas and technical solutions from both sides of the aisle. Thats not whats holding us back. Whats holding us back is a stalemate in Washington.

Last September, I sent Congress a jobs bill full of the kinds of bipartisan ideas that could have put over a million Americans back to work and helped bolster our economy against outside shocks. I sent them a plan that would have reduced our deficit by $4 trillion in a balanced way that pays for the investments we need by cutting unnecessary spending and asking the wealthiest Americans to pay a little bit more in taxes. Since then, Congress has passed a few parts of that jobs bill, like a tax cut that's allowing working Americans to keep more of your paycheck every week. But on most of the ideas that would create jobs and grow our economy, Republicans in Congress havent lifted a finger. Theyd rather wait until after the election in November. Just this past week, one of them said, Why not wait for the reinforcements? Thats a quote. And you can bet plenty of his colleagues are thinking the same thing. I think thats wrong. This isnt about who wins or loses in Washington. This is about your jobs, your paychecks, your childrens future. Theres no excuse for Congress to stand by and do nothing while so many families are struggling. None. Right now, Congress should pass a bill to help states put thousands of teachers, firefighters and police officers back on the job. They should have passed a bill a long time ago to put thousands of construction workers back to work rebuilding our roads and bridges and runways. And instead of just talking about job creators, they should give small-business owners a tax break for hiring more workers and paying them higher wages. Right now, Congress should give every responsible homeowner the opportunity to save an average of $3,000 a year by refinancing their mortgage. They should extend tax credits for clean energy manufacturers so we dont walk away from 40,000 good jobs. And instead of giving tax breaks to companies who ship jobs overseas, Congress should take that money and use it to cover moving expenses for companies that are bringing jobs back to America. Theres no reason to wait. Every problem we face is within our power to solve. Whats lacking is our politics. Remind your Members of Congress why you sent them to Washington in the first place. Tell them to stop worrying about the next election and start worrying about the next generation. Im ready to work with anyone Republican, Democrat, or Independent who is serious about moving this country forward. And I hope Members of Congress will join me. Thanks, and have a great weekend. ###

[PRESIDENTIAL WEEKLY ADDRESS ASSESSMENT PHASE A.a START OF]

[ Old English e, earlier se < IndoEuropean]

The White House Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release June 16, 2012

1house \'has\ n, pl houses \'ha-zz also -sz\ often attrib, [ME hous, fr. OE hs; akin to OHG hs house] (bef. 12c) 1 : a building that serves as living quarters for one or a few families : home 2 a (1): a shelter or refuge (as a nest or den) of a wild animal (2): a natural covering (as a test or shell) that encloses and protects an animal or a colony of zooids b : a building in which something is housed a carriage ~ 3 a : one of the 12 equal sectors in which the celestial sphere is divided in astrology b : a zodiacal sign that is the seat of a planet's greatest influence

[ Old English ende < Indo-European, "front"]

mat WEEKLY ADDRESS: Ending the Stalemate in Washington

Washington [wshingtn, wwshingtn]
state in the northwestern United States, bordered by British Columbia, Idaho, Oregon, and the Pacific Ocean. Capital: Olympia Population: 6,468,424 (2007 estimate) Area: 184,666 sq km/71,300 sq mi

-Washingtonian [wshing tnee n], noun

1stalemate \'stl-"mt\ n [obs. E stale stalemate (fr. ME, fr. AF estaler to stalemate, fr. estal station, position) + E 1mate more at installment] (1765) 1 : a drawing position in chess in which a player is not in checkmate but has no legal move to play 2 : a drawn contest : deadlock ; also: the state of being stalemated

adjective

[13th century. Via Anglo-Norman and Old French < Latin populus < Etruscan]

WASHINGTON, DC In this weeks address, President Obama told the American people that the stalemate in Washington is holding our economy back during this make-or-break moment for the middle class.
during \'dr-i also 'dyr-\ prep [ME, fr. prp. of duren to last, fr. AF durer, fr. L durare to harden, endure, last, fr. durus hard; perh. akin to Skt dru wood more at tree] (14c) 1 : throughout the duration of swims every day ~ the summer 2 : at a point in the course of was offered a job ~ a visit to the capital

[ Old English middel]

[1create \kr-'t, 'kr-"\ vb, created creating [ME,

fr. L creatus, pp. of creare; akin to L crescere to grow more at crescent] vt(14c) 1 : to bring into existence God created the heaven and the earth Gen 1:1(AV) 2 a : to invest with a new form, office, or rank was created a lieutenant b : to produce or bring about by a course of action or behavior her arrival created a terrible fuss ~ new jobs

The Presidents jobs bill could create more than one million additional jobs if Congress were to drop its opposition to common sense ideas like giving small businesses tax cuts for hiring more workers, helping states keep thousands of teachers, firefighters and police officers on the job, and putting thousands of construction workers back to work.
[ Old English byldan "construct a house" < bold "dwelling" < Germanic, "dwell"]

firefighter \-"f-tr\ n (1903) : a person who fights fires : fireman 2 firefighting n

[Mid-19th century. Shortening of gridiron]

[Mid-16th century. Via French < Italian dialect partisano < Italian parte "part, side" < Latin part-]

Its time for Congress to end this partisan gridlock and work with the President on behalf of the American people to help grow the economy and support new jobs.
economy \i-'k-n-m, -, -\ n, pl -mies [MF yconomie, fr. ML oeconomia, fr. Gk oikonomia, fr. oikonomos household manager, fr. oikos house + nemein to manage more at vicinity, nimble] (15c) 1 archaic: the management of household or private affairs and esp. expenses 2 a : thrifty and efficient use of material resources : frugality in expenditures ; also: an instance or a means of economizing : saving b : efficient and concise use of nonmaterial resources (as effort, language, or motion)

[ Old English helpan < Germanic]

[14th century. Via French < Latin praesident- < present participle of praesidere (see preside)] [Early 17th century. Via French < Latin praesidere "sit in front of" < sedere "sit"]

Remarks of President Barack Obama Weekly Address The White House June 16, 2012
[13th century. Ultimately < Germanic]

1future \'fy-chr\ adj [ME, fr. AF & L; AF, fr. L futurus about to be more at be] (14c) 1 : that is to be ; specif: existing after death 2 : of, relating to, or constituting a verb tense expressive of time yet to come 3 : existing or occurring at a later time met his ~ wife

Over the last few weeks, Ive been talking a lot about Americas economic future. Ive told you how I believe we should go about creating strong, sustained growth; how we should pay down our long-term debt in a balanced way; and most of all, what we should do right now to create good, middle-class jobs, so people who work hard can get ahead.
[14th century. < Latin creat-, past participle of creare "bring forth"]

[14th century. < Latin abstractus, past participle of abstrahere "drag away" < trahere "drag"]

This isnt some abstract debate or trivial argument. Ive said that this is the defining issue of our time, and I mean it. Ive said that this is a make-or-break moment for the middle class, and I believe it. The decisions we make over the next few years will have an enormous impact on the country we live in, and the one we pass on to our children.
enormous \i-'nr-ms, -\ adj [L enormis, fr. e, ex out of + norma rule] (1531) 1 a archaic: abnormal inordinate b : exceedingly wicked : shocking an ~ sin 2 : marked by extraordinarily great size, number, or degree ; esp: exceeding usual bounds or accepted notions enormously adv enormousness n

[13th century. < French passer < Latin passus "step"]

1fight \'ft\ vb, fought \'ft\ fighting [ME, fr. OE feohtan; akin to OHG fehtan to fight and perh. to L pectere to comb more at pectinate] vi(bef. 12c) 1 a : to contend in battle or physical combat ; esp: to strive to overcome a person by blows or weapons b : to engage in boxing Right now, were still fighting our way back from the worst economic crisis since the Great 2 :Depression.a The economy is growing again, but its not growing fast enough. Our businesses to put forth determined effort vt have created 4.3 million new jobs over the last 27 months, but were not creating them fast

enough. And were facing some pretty serious headwinds from the effects of the recent spike in gas prices, to the financial crisis in Europe.
1finance \f-'nan(t)s, 'f-", f-'\ n [ME, ending, payment, fr. AF, fr. finer to end, pay, fr. fin end more at fine] (1739) 1 pl: money or other liquid resources of a government, business, group, or individual 2 : the system that includes the circulation of money, the granting of credit, the making of investments, and the provision of banking facilities 3 : the science or study of the management of funds 4 : the obtaining of funds or capital : financing
headwind [hd wnd] (plural headwinds)

noun

wind from in front: a wind blowing against the direction of travel

[14th century. Via French and Latin < Greek problma "projection, obstacle," literally "thing thrown in front" < ballein "to throw"]

But heres the thing. We have the answers to these problems. We have plenty of big ideas and technical solutions from both sides of the aisle. Thats not whats holding us back. Whats holding us back is a stalemate in Washington.
[ Old English haldan, healdan < Germanic, "guard, watch"]

Hold memory

1last \'last\ vb [ME, fr. OE lstan to last, follow; akin to OE lst footprint] vi(bef. 12c) 1 : to continue in time 2 a : to remain fresh or unimpaired : endure b : to manage to continue (as in a course of action) c : to continue to live

Last September, I sent Congress a jobs bill full of the kinds of bipartisan ideas that could have put over a million Americans back to work and helped bolster our economy against outside shocks.

reduce \ri-'ds, -'dys\ vb, reduced reducing [ME, to lead back, fr. L reducere, fr. re- + ducere to lead more at tow] vt(14c) 1 a : to draw together or cause to converge : consolidate ~ all the questions to one b (1): to diminish in size, I sent them extent, that would~ taxes ~ the likelihood of by $4 trillion in a balanced way that pays amount, a plan or number have reduced our deficit for the investments we need by cutting unnecessary spending and asking the wealthiest war (2): to decrease the volume and concentrate the Americans to pay a little bit more in taxes. flavor of by boiling add the wine and ~ the sauce for two minutes : to \'pd\ down : restrict the [ 1pay \'p\ vb,cpaid narrowalso in sense 7 payedIndians were Old English wela < Indo-European, "to wish"] Those who can grant or be granted wishes. reduced fr. AF paier, fr. L pacare to make fr. paying [ME, to small reservations d :to pacify, shorter : abridge pac-, pax peace] vt(13c) 1 a : to make due return to for services rendered or property delivered b : to engage for money : hire you couldn't ~ me to do that 2 a : to give in return for goods or service ~ wages b : to discharge indebtedness for : settle ~ a bill c : to make a disposal or transfer of (money) 3 : to give or forfeit in expiation or retribution ~ the penalty 4 a : to make compensation for b : to requite according to what is deserved ~ them back

[ Old English, "cushion" < IndoEuropean, "to swell"]

[13th century. < French passer < Latin passus "step"]

allow \-'la\ vb [ME, fr. AF aluer, alouer to place, apportion, allow, fr. MF allocare more at allocate] vt(14c) 1 a : to assign as a share or suitable amount (as of time or money) ~ an hour for lunch b : to reckon as a deduction or an addition ~ a gallon for leakage 2 aSince then, Congress has passedof the opinion : thinkjobs bill, like a tax cut that's allowing chiefly Southern & Midland: to be a few parts of that b dial: say state c : working Americans usu. used with as how paycheck every week. But on most of the ideas that to express an opinion to keep more of your or that

would create jobs and grow our economy, Republicans in Congress havent lifted a finger. Theyd rather wait until after the election in November. Just this past week, one of them

said, Why not wait for the reinforcements? Thats a quote. And you can bet plenty of his colleagues are thinking the same thing.
1think \'thik\ vb, thought \'tht\ thinking [ME thenken, fr. OE thencan; akin to OHG denken to think, L tongre to know more at thanks] vt(bef. 12c) 1 : to form or have in the mind
[13th century. Via Old French plentet < Latin plenitas < plenus "full"]

[ Old English wrange "wrongful act." The adjective wrang probably existed in Old English, but is not found before the 12th century]

I think thats wrong. This isnt about who wins or loses in Washington. This is about your jobs, your paychecks, your childrens future. Theres no excuse for Congress to stand by and do nothing while so many families are struggling. None.
congress \'k-grs also -rs, Brit usu 'k-"gres\ n [L congressus, fr. congredi to come together, fr. com- + gradi to go more at grade] (1528) 1 a : the act or action of coming together and meeting b : coitus 2 : a formal meeting of delegates for discussion and usu. action on some question 3 : the supreme legislative body of a nation and esp. of a republic 4 : an association usu. made up of delegates from constituent organizations 5 : a single meeting or session of a group congressional \kn-'gresh-nl, kn-, -'gre-sh-nl\ adj

[ Old English sceal < Germanic, "owe"]

Right now, Congress should pass a bill to help states put thousands of teachers, firefighters and police officers back on the job. They should have passed a bill a long time ago to put thousands of construction workers back to work rebuilding our roads and bridges and runways.
rebuild \(")r-'bild\ vb, -built \-'bilt\ -building vt(1537) 1 a : to make extensive repairs to : reconstruct ~ a wartorn city b : to restore to a previous state ~ inventories 2 : to make extensive changes in : remodel ~ society vi: to build again planned to ~ after the fire mend

And instead of just talking about job creators, they should give small-business owners a tax break for hiring more workers and paying them higher wages.
[ Old English hr < Germanic]

Right now, Congress should give every responsible homeowner the opportunity to save an average of $3,000 a year by refinancing their mortgage.
[ Old English gar < IndoEuropean]

responsible \ri-'spn(t)-s-bl\ adj [AF responsable, fr. respuns] (1643) 1 a : liable to be called on to answer b (1): liable to be called to account as the primary cause, motive, or agent a committee ~ for the job (2): being the cause or explanation mechanical defects were ~ for the accident c : liable to legal review or in case of fault to penalties

1mortgage \'mr-gij\ n [ME morgage, fr. AF mortgage, fr. mort dead (fr. L mortuus) + gage gage more at murder] (15c) 1 : a conveyance of or lien against property (as for securing a loan) that becomes void upon payment or performance according to stipulated terms 2 a : the instrument evidencing the mortgage b : the state of the property so mortgaged c : the interest of the mortgagee in such property

manufacture \"man-y-'fak-chr, "ma-n-\ n [MF, fr. ML manufactura, fr. L manu factus, lit., made by hand] (1567) 1 : something made from raw materials by hand or by machinery 2 a : the process of making wares by hand or by machinery esp. when carried on systematically with division of labor b : a productive industry using mechanical power and machinery 3 : the act or process of producing something

They should extend tax credits for clean energy manufacturers so we dont walk away from 40,000 good jobs. And instead of giving tax breaks to companies who ship jobs overseas, Congress should take that money and use it to cover moving expenses for companies that are bringing jobs back to America. Theres no reason to wait.
bring \'bri\ vb, brought \'brt\ bringing \'bri-i\ [ME, fr. OE bringan; akin to OHG bringan to bring, W hebrwng to accompany] vt(bef. 12c) 1 a : to convey, lead, carry, or cause to come along with one toward the place from which the action is being regarded b : to cause to be, act, or move in a special way: as (1): attract her screams brought the neighbors (2): persuade induce (3): force compel (4): to cause to come into a particular state or condition ~ water to a boil c dial: escort accompany d : to bear as an attribute or characteristic ~s years of experience to the position
[14th century. Via Anglo-Norman < late Latin expensa < Latin expendere (see expend)] [15th century. < Latin expendere "weigh out (money in payment)" < pendere "weigh"]

[13th century. Via French < Latin facies "appearance, aspect, form, face"]

Every problem we face is within our power to solve. Whats lacking is our politics. Remind your Members of Congress why you sent them to Washington in the first place.
1why \'hw, 'w\ adv [ME, fr. OE hw, instr. case of hwt what more at what] (bef. 12c) : for what cause, reason, or purpose ~ did you do it? 2why conj (bef. 12c) 1 : the cause, reason, or purpose for which know ~ you did it that is ~ you did it 2 : for which : on account of which know the reason ~ you did it
[ Old English nhsta "most near" < Germanic, "near"]

Tell them to stop worrying about the next election and start worrying about the next generation. Im ready to work with anyone Republican, Democrat, or Independent who is serious about moving this country forward. And I hope Members of Congress will join me.
1great \'grt, Southern also 'gre()t\ adj [ME 1country \'kn-tr\ n, pl countries [ME contree, fr. AF grete, fr. OE grat; akin to OHG grz large] cuntree, contr, fr. ML contrata, fr. L contra against, on the (bef. 12c) opposite side] (13c) 1 a : notably large in size : huge b : of a kind 1 : an indefinite usu. extended expanse of land : region miles characterized by relative largeness used in of open ~ plant and animal names c : elaborate ample 2 a : the land of a person's birth, residence, or citizenship b : a ~ detail political state or nation or its territory Thanks, and have a great weekend. 2 a : large in number or measure : numerous 3 a : the people of a state or district : populace b : jury c : ~ multitudes b : predominant the ~ electorate 2 ### majority 4 : rural as distinguished from urban areas prefers the ~ to 3 : remarkable in magnitude, degree, or the city [PRESIDENTIAL WEEKLY ADDRESS ASSESSMENT PHASE A.a END OF] effectiveness ~ bloodshed 5 : country music countryish \-tr-ish\ adj