RBP
02-03-2013, 03:38 AM
Top Congressional lawmakers responded to the U.S. Department of Labor’s latest jobs report on Friday, issuing a series of statements. The economy added 157,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in January, while the unemployment rate rose to 7.9 percent, according to the Labor Department.
Nancy Pelosi:
Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today after the Department of Labor announced that the economy added 157,000 jobs and the unemployment rate rose to 7.9 percent in January. With private businesses adding 166,000 jobs, this marks the 35th consecutive month of private sector job growth:
“Today’s jobs report shows more progress for our private sector – with more than six million jobs added by businesses with this recovery – while reinforcing the need for clear, immediate action to create jobs, grow the economy, and strengthen the middle class, as we responsibly bring down the deficit.
“The last thing our economy needs right now is another series of Republican gimmicks that simply increase uncertainty and move our country from one manufactured crisis to the next. Americans cannot afford Republicans’ short-term band aids and misguided policies that risk our economic security, fail to create jobs, and sap the confidence of consumers and the markets.
“Moving forward, Democrats and Republicans must work together toward a comprehensive agreement that puts people to work, averts deep, across-the-board spending cuts, removes the long-term threat of default, and reduces the deficit in a balanced way. We must keep our focus on Americans’ top priority – job creation – and act to expand our economy and spur prosperity for the middle class.”
Todd Rokita:
U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita, a member of the House Budget Committee, today issued the following statement on the Department of Labor’s report on the January employment numbers:
“The latest jobs report, along with the news that the economy actually shrank in the last quarter of 2012, is a reminder that what Washington is doing just isn’t working.
“With unemployment now over 7 percent for 50 consecutive months, it’s time to enact pro-growth policies that will help our economy to grow again and help millions of Americans get back to work, as states like Indiana have already successfully done. We can start right away with a responsible budget that balances quickly and reforms the drivers of our debt,” said Rokita.
Chaka Fattah:
Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA), the lead Democratic Appropriator for the Department of Commerce, issues this statement upon release of today’s national employment report:
“The solid increase of 157,000 new jobs in January – despite a rough and tumultuous time in our economy that included the so-called ‘fiscal cliff’ and debt ceiling crises – demonstrates that steady growth under President Obama continues as the new normal. It is especially heartening that private employers created 166,000 new jobs last month — the 35thconsecutive month of rising employment in the private sector.
“But our economy must get stronger. The President’s jobs legislation shows the path to prosperity. The new Congress has work to do, and enacting the Obama job-creating program is top of the list.”
Bob Goodlatte:
Congressman Bob Goodlatte released the following statement in response to the Department of Labor’s unemployment report for January 2013. The unemployment rate rose to 7.9 percent:
“In the same week President Obama disbanded his Jobs Council, our unemployment rate ticked upward yet again. Today’s jobs report shows that the president’s lip service to job creation is not working, and that American workers need more than bureaucratic roundtables and fancy speeches to turn around the economy and help the private sector create jobs. With more than 12 million Americans searching for work and economic growth contracting, it is clear that unchecked government spending and higher taxes are not the path to job creation.
“Advancing policies that put Americans back to work is a high priority for House Republicans. We understand the strength of America comes from hard-working individuals looking to create a better life for themselves and their families, not a bigger and more intrusive federal government. I urge the White House and the Senate to join the House in working toward solutions to get government out of the way so small businesses and entrepreneurs can create jobs and put Americans back to work.”
Jack Kingston:
The new year got off to an anemic start as employers added 157,000 jobs in the month of January. That is short of the 170,000 economists had expected and just more than half of what is needed to sustain population growth.
Reacting to the news, Congressman Jack Kingston (R-GA) called for immediate action to encourage job creation.
“We must do better,” said Kingston. “Failing to provide leadership at this critical time for our economy risks this kind of sluggish growth becoming the new normal. It’s ironic that this report comes at the same time the President is disbanding his Jobs Council. We should be using this time to recommit ourselves to encouraging job creation, business expansion, and prosperity for working families.”
The disappointing jobs report comes in the same week the nation learned that the economy had unexpectedly contracted in the fourth quarter of 2012. That marks the first such contraction since 2009.
Kingston argues that the Obama Administration’s attempts to revive the economy through deficit spending are misguided. Instead, he believes government is part of the problem and must get out of the way of private sector growth.
“With the advancements in production, America could be an energy exporter again but this Administration is standing in the way,” he said. “It should be our policy to advance safe energy production to harness America’s potential, bring down prices, and create jobs.”
Beyond energy, Kingston points to tax reform and repealing overly-burdensome government regulations as key to creating jobs.
“America has the highest corporate tax rate in the world and one of the most complicated tax codes,” he said. “Let’s scrap the tax code and replace it with one that is fairer, flatter, and more conducive to growth. By eliminating special interest loopholes, we can bring down rates for everyone.”
“We also need a government that works with entrepreneurs, not against them,” he continued. “The bureaucrats that tried to equate spilled milk with the environmental damage of crude oil need to be reined in. Let’s review regulations and get rid of the ones that are tripping up hard working individuals who are pursuing the American dream.”
Having recently been appointed the chairman of a subcommittee that oversees the Department of Labor’s budget, Kingston pledged to advance reforms that would do just that.
Charles B. Rangel:
Congressman Charles B. Rangel released the following statement today after the Department of Labor announced that the economy added 157,000 jobs and the unemployment rate rose to 7.9 percent in January. With private businesses adding 166,000 jobs, this marks the 35th consecutive month of private sector job growth:
“With 35 consecutive months of private sector job growth, today’s jobs report shows that we are continuing to make progress. Yet the inability of Congress to find a long-term solution to our country’s economic problems continues to foster a climate of great economic uncertainty.
Despite finding a way to avoid the fiscal cliff at the beginning of the year, we still face budget battles in the upcoming months. It is imperative that we work together to find a balanced, bi-partisan approach that creates jobs, invests in the future, protects Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, and responsibly reduces the deficit.
We cannot continue to govern crisis-by-crisis. Since the Republicans took control of the House in 2010, this approach has led to the first U.S. credit downgrade in history, the lowest level of private sector job growth in the past three years, and great economic uncertainty. Kicking the can down the road does not solve any of our problems; we should be focusing on jobs, jobs, and jobs.”
Barbara Lee:
Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued the following response to the figures released by the U.S. Department of Labor showing 157,000 jobs were added in January, marking the 35th consecutive month of private sector job growth. Overall unemployment rate was 7.8 percent and has been at or near that level since September 2012.
“With 12.3 million Americans still unemployed, with the long term unemployment rate at near record levels, and with African American unemployment still exceptionally high at 13.8 percent and Hispanics at 9.7 percent, we must accelerate job creation for the millions who trying to get back to work. Job creation leads to deficit reduction, and is necessary for a full economic recovery.
“As President Obama and Congressional leaders continue to negotiate a budget deal, targeted job-creating measures, including infrastructure spending, and accelerating public-sector job growth to re-hire teachers, firefighters, police officers and the long-term unemployed should be key components to keep our economy moving forward.”
Nancy Pelosi:
Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today after the Department of Labor announced that the economy added 157,000 jobs and the unemployment rate rose to 7.9 percent in January. With private businesses adding 166,000 jobs, this marks the 35th consecutive month of private sector job growth:
“Today’s jobs report shows more progress for our private sector – with more than six million jobs added by businesses with this recovery – while reinforcing the need for clear, immediate action to create jobs, grow the economy, and strengthen the middle class, as we responsibly bring down the deficit.
“The last thing our economy needs right now is another series of Republican gimmicks that simply increase uncertainty and move our country from one manufactured crisis to the next. Americans cannot afford Republicans’ short-term band aids and misguided policies that risk our economic security, fail to create jobs, and sap the confidence of consumers and the markets.
“Moving forward, Democrats and Republicans must work together toward a comprehensive agreement that puts people to work, averts deep, across-the-board spending cuts, removes the long-term threat of default, and reduces the deficit in a balanced way. We must keep our focus on Americans’ top priority – job creation – and act to expand our economy and spur prosperity for the middle class.”
Todd Rokita:
U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita, a member of the House Budget Committee, today issued the following statement on the Department of Labor’s report on the January employment numbers:
“The latest jobs report, along with the news that the economy actually shrank in the last quarter of 2012, is a reminder that what Washington is doing just isn’t working.
“With unemployment now over 7 percent for 50 consecutive months, it’s time to enact pro-growth policies that will help our economy to grow again and help millions of Americans get back to work, as states like Indiana have already successfully done. We can start right away with a responsible budget that balances quickly and reforms the drivers of our debt,” said Rokita.
Chaka Fattah:
Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA), the lead Democratic Appropriator for the Department of Commerce, issues this statement upon release of today’s national employment report:
“The solid increase of 157,000 new jobs in January – despite a rough and tumultuous time in our economy that included the so-called ‘fiscal cliff’ and debt ceiling crises – demonstrates that steady growth under President Obama continues as the new normal. It is especially heartening that private employers created 166,000 new jobs last month — the 35thconsecutive month of rising employment in the private sector.
“But our economy must get stronger. The President’s jobs legislation shows the path to prosperity. The new Congress has work to do, and enacting the Obama job-creating program is top of the list.”
Bob Goodlatte:
Congressman Bob Goodlatte released the following statement in response to the Department of Labor’s unemployment report for January 2013. The unemployment rate rose to 7.9 percent:
“In the same week President Obama disbanded his Jobs Council, our unemployment rate ticked upward yet again. Today’s jobs report shows that the president’s lip service to job creation is not working, and that American workers need more than bureaucratic roundtables and fancy speeches to turn around the economy and help the private sector create jobs. With more than 12 million Americans searching for work and economic growth contracting, it is clear that unchecked government spending and higher taxes are not the path to job creation.
“Advancing policies that put Americans back to work is a high priority for House Republicans. We understand the strength of America comes from hard-working individuals looking to create a better life for themselves and their families, not a bigger and more intrusive federal government. I urge the White House and the Senate to join the House in working toward solutions to get government out of the way so small businesses and entrepreneurs can create jobs and put Americans back to work.”
Jack Kingston:
The new year got off to an anemic start as employers added 157,000 jobs in the month of January. That is short of the 170,000 economists had expected and just more than half of what is needed to sustain population growth.
Reacting to the news, Congressman Jack Kingston (R-GA) called for immediate action to encourage job creation.
“We must do better,” said Kingston. “Failing to provide leadership at this critical time for our economy risks this kind of sluggish growth becoming the new normal. It’s ironic that this report comes at the same time the President is disbanding his Jobs Council. We should be using this time to recommit ourselves to encouraging job creation, business expansion, and prosperity for working families.”
The disappointing jobs report comes in the same week the nation learned that the economy had unexpectedly contracted in the fourth quarter of 2012. That marks the first such contraction since 2009.
Kingston argues that the Obama Administration’s attempts to revive the economy through deficit spending are misguided. Instead, he believes government is part of the problem and must get out of the way of private sector growth.
“With the advancements in production, America could be an energy exporter again but this Administration is standing in the way,” he said. “It should be our policy to advance safe energy production to harness America’s potential, bring down prices, and create jobs.”
Beyond energy, Kingston points to tax reform and repealing overly-burdensome government regulations as key to creating jobs.
“America has the highest corporate tax rate in the world and one of the most complicated tax codes,” he said. “Let’s scrap the tax code and replace it with one that is fairer, flatter, and more conducive to growth. By eliminating special interest loopholes, we can bring down rates for everyone.”
“We also need a government that works with entrepreneurs, not against them,” he continued. “The bureaucrats that tried to equate spilled milk with the environmental damage of crude oil need to be reined in. Let’s review regulations and get rid of the ones that are tripping up hard working individuals who are pursuing the American dream.”
Having recently been appointed the chairman of a subcommittee that oversees the Department of Labor’s budget, Kingston pledged to advance reforms that would do just that.
Charles B. Rangel:
Congressman Charles B. Rangel released the following statement today after the Department of Labor announced that the economy added 157,000 jobs and the unemployment rate rose to 7.9 percent in January. With private businesses adding 166,000 jobs, this marks the 35th consecutive month of private sector job growth:
“With 35 consecutive months of private sector job growth, today’s jobs report shows that we are continuing to make progress. Yet the inability of Congress to find a long-term solution to our country’s economic problems continues to foster a climate of great economic uncertainty.
Despite finding a way to avoid the fiscal cliff at the beginning of the year, we still face budget battles in the upcoming months. It is imperative that we work together to find a balanced, bi-partisan approach that creates jobs, invests in the future, protects Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, and responsibly reduces the deficit.
We cannot continue to govern crisis-by-crisis. Since the Republicans took control of the House in 2010, this approach has led to the first U.S. credit downgrade in history, the lowest level of private sector job growth in the past three years, and great economic uncertainty. Kicking the can down the road does not solve any of our problems; we should be focusing on jobs, jobs, and jobs.”
Barbara Lee:
Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued the following response to the figures released by the U.S. Department of Labor showing 157,000 jobs were added in January, marking the 35th consecutive month of private sector job growth. Overall unemployment rate was 7.8 percent and has been at or near that level since September 2012.
“With 12.3 million Americans still unemployed, with the long term unemployment rate at near record levels, and with African American unemployment still exceptionally high at 13.8 percent and Hispanics at 9.7 percent, we must accelerate job creation for the millions who trying to get back to work. Job creation leads to deficit reduction, and is necessary for a full economic recovery.
“As President Obama and Congressional leaders continue to negotiate a budget deal, targeted job-creating measures, including infrastructure spending, and accelerating public-sector job growth to re-hire teachers, firefighters, police officers and the long-term unemployed should be key components to keep our economy moving forward.”