English subtitles for clip: File:2012-09-22 President Obama's Weekly Address.ogv

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The President:
Hi, everybody.

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Last week, without much fanfare,
Members of the House of

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Representatives banged a
gavel, turned out the lights,

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and rushed home, declaring
their work finished for now.

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If that frustrates
you, it should --

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because their work
isn't finished.

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See, when they skipped town,
Members of Congress left a whole

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bunch of proposals
sitting on the table --

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actions that would create
jobs, boost our economy,

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and strengthen
middle-class security.

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These ideas have been
around for months.

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The American people
want to see them passed.

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But apparently, some Members of
Congress are more worried about

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their jobs and their paychecks
this campaign season than they

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are about yours.

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Right now, if Congress
had done the right thing,

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we would be on our way to having
a veterans' jobs corps that

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helps returning heroes find work
as cops and firefighters in

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communities all
across the country.

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These men and women have made
incredible sacrifices for

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our country.

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They shouldn't have to worry
about finding a job when

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they get home.

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But last week, Republicans
in Congress voted it down.

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And then they left.

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Right now, if Congress had
gotten its act together,

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we would have a farm bill to
help farmers and ranchers

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respond to natural disasters
like the drought we had

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this summer.

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And we'd have made necessary
reforms to give our rural

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communities some
long-term certainty.

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But so far, Republicans
in Congress have

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dragged their feet.

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And now they're gone.

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Right now, if
Congress had acted,

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thousands of responsible
homeowners could be saving an

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extra $3,000 a year on their
mortgages by refinancing at

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historically low rates.

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But instead, Republicans in
Congress decided that working

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families could wait.

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And now they'll have to
wait a little longer.

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And finally, if Congress
had listened to you,

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they would have given 98% of
Americans and 97% of small

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business owners a guarantee that
your taxes won't go up next year

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by a single dime.

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This is something
we all agree on.

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It should have gotten
done a long time ago.

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But Republicans in Congress
have refused to budge.

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They're holding tax cuts for 98%
of Americans hostage until we

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pass tax cuts for the
wealthiest 2% of Americans.

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And now middle-class families
and small business owners are

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left wondering what their tax
bill will look like next year.

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All of these ideas would
strengthen our economy and help

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the middle class right now.

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All of them are
supported by Democrats,

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Republicans and Independents.

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There's no reason to wait.

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That's why, after going home and
listening to their constituents

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for a few weeks, Members of
Congress should come back in

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November and do this work.

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They should do the right thing
for veterans and farmers;

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for responsible homeowners
and small businesses;

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for Americans everywhere who
are just trying to get ahead.

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And if you agree with
me, I need your help.

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Tell your Members of Congress
you can't afford to wait

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any longer.

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If you get an answering
machine, leave a message.

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If you see them campaigning
back home, tell them in person.

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Because there's
been enough talk.

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It's time for action.

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That's what you deserve, and
that's what it's going to take

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to move this country forward.

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Thanks, and have a
wonderful weekend.