Turning to Labour, the first minister said his rivals had a track record in the Scottish Parliament of trying to block boosting apprenticeships, freezing council tax and increasing police officer numbers.

BBC: Scotland politics

You started your career of service as a community organizer and now we are hearing from people like -- organizations like the CBC is saying rebuilding our economy on the backs of the most vulnerable Americans is something that is simply not acceptable, like the cuts to the Community Service Block Grants, Pell Grants, heating oil assistance, and freezing salaries of federal workers.

WHITEHOUSE: Presidential Press Conference on the 2012 Budget