Obama: Time to Give America a Raise

U.S. President Barack Obama says restoring the idea of opportunity for everyone requires a year of action from every American, and 2014 is that year.

Obama said in his weekly address Saturday, his recent action included a new requirement that federal contractors paid their employees at least $10.10 an hour.

President Obama said in the year since he asked Congress to raise the minimum wage, six states have passed laws to raise theirs, and more states were working on it.

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The U.S. leader said there was a bill before Congress that would boost America's minimum wage without requiring any new taxes.

The president said even though Democrats, Independents and many Republicans supported raising the minimum wage, Republicans in Congress did not want to give it a vote.

In the Republican address, Representative Tom Cotton of Arkansas said President Obama's policies spend too much money and concentrate power in Washington. He also said Republicans wanted to repair the damage he said the president has inflicted on the country.

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