U.S. President Barack Obama has told workers at a battery plant in Michigan that Americans must pressure Congress to pass bills that will create jobs.
He spoke Thursday in Holland, Michigan, at a plant where a $3 million federal grant is expected to create some 150 jobs making batteries for hybrid and electric cars in Michigan and neighboring Wisconsin.
Mr. Obama said the economy is not growing fast enough. He said he was frustrated with the congressional gridlock that he said had undermined public confidence.
The president urged his audience to call their members of Congress and urge them to pass existing bills on extending the payroll tax, funding road construction and authorizing free trade agreements. He said such bills will help put service members, returning from war, to work.
He also promised he will be introducing more jobs-creation legislation in the coming weeks.
White House spokesman Jay Carney said Thursday that Mr. Obama believes it is important to get out and talk with Americans about the economy. The president plans a bus trip through the U.S. Midwest next week.
Later Thursday, the president travels to New York City for two fundraising events, as he continues his efforts for reelection.
A new Washington Post poll of 600 people shows Americans are frustrated with the country's leadership after the protracted battle over raising the debt ceiling. Nearly three-quarters of the respondents said they have little or no confidence that Washington will be able to repair the economy.
In the survey, only 17 percent said they were inclined to reelect their own representative in Congress. Seventy-eight percent said they are unhappy with the country's political system, although nearly the same percentage said compared to the rest of the world, the U.S. system of government is the best.
The poll was conducted by telephone August 9.
The margin of error is plus or minus 4.5 percentage points.
Some information for this report was provided by AP.
