Jan. 13 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama called on Congress to give him authority to streamline the executive branch and make it easier for businesses to tap government resources by consolidating six agencies dealing with trade and commerce.

“We live in a 21st century economy, but we’ve still got a government organized for the 20th century,” Obama said in the text of remarks at the White House. “With this authority, we’d help businesses grow; save businesses time; and save taxpayer dollars.”

He asked lawmakers to restore power to reorganize agencies granted to presidents in the past. Congress would then be able to give an up-or-down vote on the plan.

To contact the reporter on this story: Roger Runningen in Washington at rrunningen@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Joe Sobczyk at jsobczyk@bloomberg.net