US President Barack Obama is going after Senate Republicans who have stymied his proposal to create a $30 billion fund to help unfreeze lending for credit-starved small businesses. His election-year push for additional job measures suffered a fresh setback this past week when Republicans blocked the small-business plan. Obama used his weekly radio and Internet address Saturday to accuse Republicans of “holding America's small businesses hostage to politics.” He said the bill has the support of business groups and contains many ideas favored by both parties. “Understand, a majority of senators support the plan. It's just that the Republican leaders in the Senate won't even allow it to come up for a vote,” Obama said. “That isn't right.” Obama made clear that it's not only a policy disagreement, but a reason for voters to steer away from Republicans in November's pivotal congressional elections, which will determine whether Democrats keep their majorities in the House and Senate. “When US is just starting to move forward again, we can't afford the do-nothing policies and partisan maneuvering that will only take us backward,” he said.
