In economic news, President Obama urged Senate Republicans Monday to stop blocking a jobs bill that would set up a $30 billion loan fund for small businesses.

President Obama: “The small business owners and the communities that rely on them, they don’t have time for political games. They shouldn’t have to wait any longer. In fact, just this morning, a story showed that small businesses have put hiring and expanding on hold while waiting for the Senate to act on this bill. Simply put, holding this bill hostage is directly detrimental to our economic growth. So I ask Senate Republicans to drop the blockade.”