Washington (AP) President-elect Barack Obama is encouraging the White House and Congress to keep working on a rescue plan for the auto industry.

Obama said in a statement Friday that he's disappointed the Senate could not agree on a temporary assistance plan for the industry. He says reviving the economy should not be a partisan issue.

Obama says he's frustrated with industry mismanagement that helped create the current crisis, but he also says millions of American jobs rely on a viable auto industry. He said his hope is that a deal can be reached to provide temporary assistance while demanding long-term restructuring.