President Barack Obama said the way business is done in Washington must change.
In his weekly radio and Internet address, Mr Obama said Americans’ frustration with politics was understandable. He referred to the fiscal crisis that shut down the government and brought the U.S. close to default.
Mr Obama said even with the crisis over, Republicans and Democrats won’t agree on everything. But they should find areas of agreement. He was pushing Congress to act this year on a budget, a farm bill and an immigration overhaul.
In the Republican address, Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli said Mr Obama’s health care law was an affront to freedoms. He said its implementation had been a national embarrassment.
Mr Cuccinelli is running for governor of Virginia.