WASHINGTON  President Bush criticized Congress Tuesday for "letting the American people down" on issues ranging from food and gas prices to foreign trade and intelligence, and he called for new bipartisan efforts to solve them. However, the president declined to go along with congressional proposals to open the nation's strategic petroleum reserve, declare a summer moratorium on gas taxes or add domestic priorities to a $108 billion spending bill for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Bush acknowledged the economy was having a "tough time" and said Congress wasn't addressing it. In a wide-ranging Rose Garden news conference, he accused lawmakers of "playing politics," a "lack of leadership" and "inactivity on big issues." Americans, Bush said, want the White House and Congress to work together to help them pay for gas, food, housing and college costs. "I don't think this is too much to ask, even in an election year," he said. The news conference was Bush's first in two months, and it came as Americans' attention increasingly has turned to the presidential campaign. As he has done before, Bush refused to opine much about the race, other than to predict Republican Sen. John McCain will win and carry on his policies on free trade and combating terrorism. The president said Congress has ignored his proposals, such as expanding U.S. energy production, reducing subsidies to wealthy farmers and overhauling federal mortgage lending agencies. "Time after time, Congress chose to block them," he said. Bush said he would consider proposals to lower gas prices, but he did not endorse McCain's plan for a gas tax holiday this summer, and he opposed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's proposal to open up the strategic petroleum reserve. "I have analyzed the issue, and I don't think it would affect price," he said. "If there was a magic wand ... I'd do that," the president said. "There is no magic wand to wave right now. It took us a while to get in this fix." In a more conciliatory tone, Bush said he would "work with Congress" to improve Iraq and Afghanistan veterans' educational benefits. Democrats plan to attach that and other domestic spending, including extended unemployment benefits, to the Iraq spending request next month. Bush said he would not accept anything over $108 billion. The president said he did not know what his administration would report Wednesday on economic growth in the second quarter of the 2008 fiscal year. A second quarter of negative growth could confirm a recession. "Economists can argue over the terminology," he said. On other issues, the president: •Avoided criticism of former president Jimmy Carter's recent meeting with Hamas leaders in the Middle East. He said he had not talked to Carter beforehand and didn't know the details of any conversations administration officials had with him. He blamed Hamas for undermining peace talks with Israel and said, "That's the reason I'm not talking to them." •Defended his administration's decision to withhold information from Congress until now on North Korea's alleged role in building a nuclear reactor in Syria that was bombed by Israel. He said 22 members were briefed immediately after the bombing but only now was the "risk of retaliation or confrontation in the Middle East" reduced sufficiently to speak openly of North Korea's alleged involvement. He also said the briefing was meant as a warning to Iran regarding its nuclear plans. •Said the war in Afghanistan is "worth the fight" despite slow progress against Taliban insurgents. "We are in a global struggle against thugs and killers," he said. "Is it worth the fight? In my judgment, yes, it is." •Said President Robert Mugabe's government in Zimbabwe is waging a campaign of violence and intimidation after March 29 elections that is "simply unacceptable." Bush said neighboring countries "need to step up and lead and recognize that the will of the people must be respected." Election results have yet to be announced. Zimbabwe's Opposition Movement for Democratic Change says leader Morgan Tsvangirai won a majority. Enlarge By Jason Reed, Reuters President Bush speaks during a news conference in the Rose Garden at the White House. Guidelines: You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. Read more