WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is rallying union workers by painting a bleak portrait of America's infrastructure. He blames Republicans for focusing on tax cutting rather than creating jobs by updating and rebuilding highways, railroads and airports.

Obama tells the Building and Construction Trades Department of the AFL-CIO that U.S. highways are clogged, railroads are no longer the fastest in the world and airports are congested. Yet, he says, Republicans have repeatedly voted against his initiatives to create jobs by spending on construction projects.

Union members greeted him with chants of "Four more years." He urged House Republicans to pass a stalled transportation bill.

Obama says: "Republicans in Congress would rather put fewer of you to work rebuilding America than ask millionaires and billionaires to live without massive new tax cuts."

Associated Press
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