By PAUL WISEMAN and MARTIN CRUTSINGER
AP Economics Writers
JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. – Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has a message for Congress: Do more to stimulate hiring and growth – or risk delaying the economy’s return to full health.
Bernanke held out the prospect Friday that the Fed may take further steps later to help the economy. But he offered no new plans for now.
At a time when Congress has focused on shrinking budget deficits, Bernanke agreed that doing so is important for the long term. But he warned lawmakers not to “disregard the fragility of the current economic recovery.”