Obama: "When Congress refuses to act, Joe and I will act"

“When Congress refuses to act, Joe and I are going to act,” Obama said Tuesday, accompanied by Vice President Joe Biden. “In the months to come, wherever we have an opportunity, we’re going to take steps on our own to keep this economy moving.”

Obama spoke Tuesday from the Eisenhower Executive Office Building near the White House, where he praised Congress for voting to extend the payroll tax cut. He said this helps the middle class, but he would fight for middle class voters regardless of what Congress does.

“[With] or without Congress I’m going to continue to fight with them. I do hope Congress joins me instead of spending the coming months in a lot of phony political debates focusing on the next election.”