If Congress would put people ahead of politics, the outlook for the unemployed might be better.

Ben Bernanke's testimony before Congress Tuesday emphasized several things. First, he noted that the economy is recovering slower than the Fed expected. In fact, "the recovery is close to faltering." Second, he emphasized that the Fed has acted aggressively to support growth, and while there is still more the Fed can do. Third, and importantly, he emphasized that although the Fed can do more to help the economy, the Fed cannot do this alone -- its powers are limited at this point -- and it needs help from fiscal policy authorities. He has made this point before, but in today's testimony it is more forceful and urgent than in the past: