USA

Obama Touts Improved Economy

President Barack Obama pauses while speaking about the economy, July 9, 2014, at Cheesman Park in Denver.

U.S. President Barack Obama says the economy is "better off" now than it was five years ago, adding that American businesses have created 10 million new jobs.

The president said in his weekly address Saturday that he has taken action to help the middle class, including raising workers' wages, creating new jobs and helping students pay off their loans.

Obama said the Republicans have opted not to work with him and are instead taking steps to bring a lawsuit against him concerning health care.

House Speaker John Boehner said earlier in the week the president violated the U.S. Constitution by failing to get Congressional approval for a change to the health care law.

President Obama said Saturday the lawsuit is a "political stunt" that's going to waste months of America's time.

He said he had a better idea for the Republican Congress: join him in working to improve the lives of American citizens instead of suing him with Americans' "hard-earned tax dollars."