"These problems didn't rise overnight, and they don't get solved overnight," he told reporters during an hourlong news conference in Chicago on Friday.

"These are problems that can't be solved overnight," Mr. Coscia added.

"No one should expect this can be solved overnight," a White House official said.

Even if the cash problem were solved overnight, another uncertainty would remain: where exactly should all the pension money be invested?

"This isn't the kind of problem that can be solved overnight, but with everyone working together, it can be solved."

"The structural economic problems facing this country are deep-seated and can't be solved overnight," Mr. Altman said.

"It won't be solved overnight, but there is no point in saying it will never be solved."

"With the issue of truck traffic, it's an issue that won't be solved overnight, but we are committed to seeing it resolved."

While the problem of poverty "cannot be solved overnight," she said, she takes pride in having been able to guarantee personal liberties and protect human rights.

"We clearly have more to do, but the size of New York and the problems that we face are not going to be solved overnight," he continued.