Obama Will Focus on Economy in State of Union Address

U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to focus mainly on the economy in his State of the Union address Wednesday, at a time when his public approval ratings have declined and the unemployment rate has reached 10 percent.

Mr. Obama will deliver the nationally-televised address to Congress that will include a request to lawmakers for a three-year spending freeze on many domestic programs.  The White House says the freeze is an effort to reduce the country's soaring budget deficit.

The Obama administration has come under conflicting pressure to cut spending, create jobs and improve the sagging economy.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs says the president will address Americans' "anger and frustration" over the country's economy. 

In a new poll published by The Wall Street Journal Wednesday, Americans said that Mr. Obama has devoted too little attention to the economy and too much time to health-care reform.

Gibbs said Wednesday Mr. Obama will challenge Congress to work together on heath-care reform, which has stalled in its final stages during negotiations between Democratic leaders in the House and the Senate. 

U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has ruled out the possibility of dropping health-care legislation efforts.  She told reporters Wednesday that Democrats will still produce health-care legislation despite recent setbacks.

Administration officials say the president's spending freeze proposal will be included in the budget he submits to Congress on February 1. 

The plan, which is expected to save about $250 billion over the next decade, would not apply to spending on defense, veterans, homeland security or foreign aid.

Mr. Obama said earlier this week he remains determined to address the country's toughest problems, even if his actions prove politically unpopular.

He acknowledged paying a political price for his initiatives, with his public approval rating dropping steadily since taking office a year ago.