Politicians Sound Off on June Jobs Report - East Idaho News
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Politicians Sound Off on June Jobs Report

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Getty 070612 TalkingHeads?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1341603263629Hemera/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — Friday’s jobs report brought little good news for the American economy. Unemployment is still hovering around 8.2 percent, with only 80,000 jobs created – 10,000 jobs short of economists’ projections.

In a campaign that has centered around the nation’s sputtering economic recovery, politicians had plenty to say about a jobs report that, really, said nothing new at all:

RNC Chairman Reince Priebus: “Once again, the monthly jobs report brings devastating news for the millions of Americans looking for work. The Obama economy is defined by chronically high unemployment. Our country is coming out of the worst quarter of job creation in two years. ObamaCare and President Obama’s other policies simply are not working and disappointed Americans are ready for a new direction.

“After taking office, President Obama promised he would fix the economy in three years or face a ‘one-term proposition.’ While the president believes ‘the private sector is doing fine,’ the rest of the country knows we are not ‘doing fine’ at all. We cannot afford another term of this president because we cannot endure four more years of painfully high joblessness.

“Gov. Mitt Romney is uniquely qualified to provide the leadership our economy needs. With his successful record in business, at the Olympics, and in Massachusetts, he has a proven track record. It’s time to accept President Obama’s offer of a ‘one-term proposition,’ send Mitt Romney to the White House, and finally get America working again.”

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.: “Today’s report is further evidence that Congress should be focusing on creating jobs and helping the middle class, not re-fighting old battles for political gain. Unfortunately, my Republican colleagues have decided they would rather focus their energy on political grandstanding and empty, partisan exercises that will not create a single job. As this report clearly shows, it’s time to move on and focus on jobs.

“To help spark the growth we need, the Senate will move next week to vote on a series of common-sense jobs bills, starting with a tax cut for small businesses that is designed to reward hiring and provide incentives for payroll growth. Unless Republicans are truly rooting for our economy to fail, there is simply no reason for them to oppose such common-sense jobs measures. With Americans in Nevada and around the country looking to their elected officials for results, putting Americans back to work should be our top priority, not Tea Party politics or partisan maneuvering.”

Chairman of Council of Economic Advisers Alan Krueger: “While the economy is continuing to heal from the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, much more remains to be done to repair the damage from the financial crisis and deep recession that followed.  It is critical that we continue the policies that build an economy that works for the middle class and makes us stronger and more secure as we dig our way out of the deep hole that was caused by the severe recession.  There are no quick fixes to the problems we face that were more than a decade in the making. President Obama has proposals to create jobs by ending tax breaks for companies to ship jobs overseas and supporting State and local governments to prevent layoffs and rehire hundreds of thousands of teachers…

“As the Administration stresses every month, the monthly employment and unemployment figures can be volatile, and employment estimates can be subject to substantial revision.  Therefore, it is important not to read too much into any one monthly report and it is informative to consider each report in the context of other data that are becoming available.”

Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, in a televised speech in Wolfeboro, N.H.: “We have seen the jobs report this morning and it is another kick in the gut to middle class families. It’s consistent with what I’ve heard as I’ve gone across the country and met with families in their homes, cafes and restaurants and in break rooms. American families are struggling. There is a lot of misery in America today, and these numbers understate what people are feeling and the amount of pain which is occurring in middle class America. Not only is the 8.2 percent number unacceptably high, and one that has been in place now for over 41 months, but in addition if you look at the broader analysis of people who are out of work, or have dropped out of the workforce or that are underemployed in part time jobs, needing full time work its almost 15 percent of the American public.

“This is a time for America to choose whether they want more of the same, whether unemployment above 8 percent month after month after month is satisfactory or not. It doesn’t have to be this way. America can do better and this kick in the gut has got to end.”

House Republican Policy Committee Chairman Tom Price, R-GA: “Job creation and economic growth are not keeping pace with the type of recovery the Obama Administration and Democrats controlling Washington promised the American people.  President Obama’s tax and spending policies are simply not working,” said Chairman Price.  ”The Obama Administration’s focus on excessive regulation and ever increasing taxes to chase ever-higher deficit spending has made doing business in America even more difficult for those who create jobs and drive our economy.  The primary example is the president’s health care law which is a threat not only to quality, affordable health care, but also to economic growth.  That is why House Republicans will continue our work to dismantle, defund and fully repeal this disastrous law to protect patient-centered health care and help preserve American jobs.

“The American people are rightfully fed-up with partisan gridlock and they know more must be done to help grow our economy.  House Republicans have responded to this need for leadership by sending more than 30 bills over to the Senate to encourage job creation, and we will continue to offer other opportunities to work together on productive solutions.  President Obama could demonstrate real leadership if he were to simply call on his Democratic colleagues, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, to take action on these numerous pieces of legislation so there is a more positive economic environment where Americans can find jobs and provide for their families.”

Obama campaign spokesman Ben LaBolte: “The president brought us back from the brink of another Depression but he doesn’t believe our work is done – he’s got a plan to restore the middle class and create a million jobs now that Mitt Romney opposes and Republican leaders have blocked. Mitt Romney says he has a better path, but over the past decade we saw where that took us — to the slowest job growth since World War II, the collapse of our financial system and the deterioration of the middle class. In fact, independent economists have concluded his plan wouldn’t create one job, wouldn’t reduce the deficit one cent, and could lead to another recession. Mitt Romney’s economic policies failed before and instead of creating jobs, they would weaken the economy and undermine the middle class.”

Former Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum: “Today’s jobs report is yet another reminder of the disaster that is Obamanomics. These numbers are abysmal and sadly reaffirm that our economy continues to suffer and American families are struggling.

“Under President Obama’s economic and regulatory policies, the unemployment remains over 8 percent, poverty rates are at historic and tragic highs with 1 in 6 Americans living in poverty, and 1 in 4 children receiving food stamps.

“Our manufacturing sector also continues to decline under this president. For the second quarter in a row, manufacturers continue to be less optimistic about growth due to increased uncertainty.

“If we are serious about addressing poverty in this country then we must support policies that create an environment for work, marriage and family, quality education, access to capital, and civil society to prosper. This is how we help the unemployed in America; not through Big Government but through expanded opportunity and bold leadership.”

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