New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg had some harsh words for both President Obama and Mitt Romney while delivering a speech in Washington, D.C. But he was focused on the economy, not foreign policy. YNN's Erin Billups reports.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- While New York City has largely climbed its way out of the hole left by the 2008 financial collapse, the country is still struggling. Mayor Michael Bloomberg says the problem are the leaders in Washington.

Bloomberg said, “Both parties, and both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue have let us down. They have focused on generating headlines in the media, rather than generating headcount in the workplace."

Speaking to members of the Washington Economic Club Wednesday, the mayor says he and other local officials across the country have had to navigate their way through the economic recovery with no help from a highly polarized, partisan Washington.
The result, he says, is a middle class that is under siege.

"It is a problem that many cities, unlike Washington, we are trying to solve. Yet Washington is tying one hand behind our backs," Bloomberg said.

Bloomberg says infrastructure projects should not equal a jobs plan. He points to a lack of leadership from the White House in dealing with Congress, which often loads up legislation with unnecessary add-ons to curry favor in their districts.

Bloomberg said, "What the President should be doing is bringing a bill down and then cajoling, bribing, threatening, kissing, whatever it takes, modifying at the edges, to get that piece of legislation passed."

But his criticism was not just for the left. He also attacked Republicans' push on extending the Bush-era tax cuts.

“You show me a business person who cares about his federal tax rate more than his customers, I will show you Darwin at work," said Bloomberg.

When asked whether he plans to stay involved in public policy after his third term ends, the mayor says he hasn't thought about it yet. But those in this Washington Ballroom have.

"Would you consider moving to Washington and running for mayor here?” asked Washington Economic Club President David Rubenstein.

Bloomberg replied, "I suspect, David, that all the votes that I would get are here at this lunch."