White House keeps pressure on for financial reform during Midwest swing

The White House joined Congressional Democrats in expressing impatience in moving a proposed financial regulation reform bill. 

As President Barack Obama made a swing through the Midwest, his aides continued the dialogue pressing for an overhaul of rules that govern the financial system. 

"There has been a lot of talk about his issue for a long time and people on both sides are saying they want to get something done," said White House spokesman Bill Burton on a flight Wednesday from Des Moines to Quincy, Ill. 

"The president has been impatient on this issue for a very long time. We need action and for the Senate to move this forward," Burton said, according to the pool report. 

"The president is committed to making sure we've made progress and get Wall Street reform done," he said. 

While Obama administration officials continued to help move the stymied talks forward in talks with lawmakers, Burton said he wasn't aware that the president had talked to Senators about the bill. 

Discussions on the bill continued today following a long day of testimony by Goldman Sachs executives. 

"There are real problems on Wall Street. There is a need to rein in some of the practices that got us into this mess," Burton said.