WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is making a pitch to the middle class, saying it's an essential part of a healthy economy.
In his weekly radio and Internet address, Obama says bustling Main Streets and a thriving middle class are even more important than a healthy stock market.
Obama says the middle class has been squeezed the most during the recession.
He touted efforts to create jobs, make college more affordable, help build retirement nest eggs, cut taxes and stop health insurance companies from refusing to cover people with pre-existing medical conditions.
Obama says Labor Day is about more than grilling food and spending time with family and friends.
He says it's "a day to honor the American worker — to reaffirm our commitment to the great American middle class that has, for generations, made our economy the envy of the world."
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