Obama to Congress: Why Can't You Be Like My Daughters?

President Barack Obama scolded lawmakers Wednesday for failing to reach a budget deal and used his daughters as an example of how to handle pressure and deadlines, Fox News reported.

Obama questioned why the U.S. Congress routinely dawdles on important legislation while his daughters have mastered prompt and timely completion of homework.

Malia and Sasha, generally, finish their homework a day ahead of time, Obama said. They don't wait until the night before. They're not pulling all-nighters - they're 13 and 10. You know, Congress can do the same thing. If you know you've got to do something, just do it.

Criticizing lawmakers for trying to foist the stalled negotiations on him, Obama vowed to work with lawmakers to strike a deal, but advised they stop going on recess until a compromise is reached.

They need to do their jobs, he said. You need to be here. I've been here. I've been doing Afghanistan and bin Laden and the Greek crisis.

Since the beginning of the year, Congress has spent six full weeks out of session, in addition to other days off. The president, meanwhile, hasn't had a vacation since he returned from Hawaii with his family in early January.