U.S. President Barack Obama held his final news conference of his first term where he called on lawmakers to put policy before politics.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SAYING :<br/> <br />"We are poised for a good year, if we make smart decisions, and sound investments and as long as Washington politics as long as was politics don't get in the way of Americas' progress."<br/> <br />He also issued a warning to Congress if it does not raise the debt ceiling.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SAYING :<br/> <br />"It would be a self inflicted wound on the economy. It would slow down our growth, it might tip us into recession and ironically it would likely increase our deficit. "<br/> <br />Obama also pledged to pursue gun control after last month's massacre of schoolchildren in Connecticut. He called on members of Congress to follow their conscious.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SAYING :<br/> <br />"We are going to have to vote on what we think is best, We are going to have to come up with answers that set politics aside."<br/> <br />Obama will officially begin his second term on January 20th.
