President Barack Obama says a new report showing that the unemployment rate has dropped below 8 percent is a sign the still-sluggish economy is moving forward. But Obama says more needs to be done.

He called on Republicans in Congress to work with Democrats on a plan to cut taxes for 98 percent of Americans and on another bill to help families refinance their homes at lower interest rates. Obama also said Congress should approve his plan for a veterans jobs corps to help former members of the military find work as police officers, firefighters and park rangers.

Obama is blaming congressional Republicans for not passing the legislation.

In his weekly radio and Internet address Saturday, Obama said Republicans in Congress "need to stop trying to refight the battles of the past few years and finally start doing something to actually help the middle class get ahead."

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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