英语文摘:Obama Urges Congress to Extend Transportation Bill

U.S. President Barack Obama is urging Congress to pass an extension of the transportation bill to prevent nearly one million workers from losing their jobs.

During his weekly address Saturday, President Obama says if Congress does not act by the end September, funding for road and bridge projects will end, costing workers their jobs.

Congress has passed similar transportation bills seven other time, but the president says  "political gamesmanship" has slowed a response to the current bill.

President Obama says everyone needs to put their differences aside and do the right thing for the economy.  Obama will introduce a plan to stimulate the national economy and create jobs in a speech before a joint session of Congress next Thursday.

In the Republican weekly address, Congressman Bob Goodlatte of the southeastern state of Virginia says Obama's upcoming speech should also include a call for congressional support of a Balanced Budget Amendment.

If approved, the Balanced Budget Amendment would mandate Congress spend only the money the government takes in.