Weekly Column: Boehner Column: Senate Democrats Are Out of Excuses for Stalling on Bipartisan Jobs Bills

Statement

Today, Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) released the following column discussing the House-passed, bipartisan jobs bills that are stalled in the Democratic-controlled Senate:

"Ohio families and small businesses are struggling in this economy and House Republicans understand that immediate action is needed. That's why we are focused on finding common ground with Senate Democrats and the president on removing government barriers to job growth.

"So far this year, the House has passed more than 20 bipartisan bills to create a better environment for private-sector job growth. These bills, all part of our Plan for America's Job Creators, eliminate unnecessary government regulations, fix our tax code and prevent tax hikes, stop Washington from spending money it doesn't have, and more.

"These jobs bills all passed with bipartisan support and show there are plenty of areas where both parties can and have worked together. But that's not all. A group of 132 economists from institutions like Harvard, Stanford, and the University of Chicago say the strategy we use in the Republican Plan for America's Job Creators will do more to help Americans get back to work - in both the near-term and long-term - than the "stimulus' spending approach favored by President Obama. You can find the full list on my website: johnboehner.house.gov.

"We already know more "stimulus' spending isn't the answer. The Obama administration touted its last "stimulus' with big predictions of millions of jobs "saved or created' and an unemployment rate that wouldn't rise above eight percent. Those predictions were a bust. It's time to close the book on the failed "stimulus' era in Washington, and start working together to remove the government barriers holding back robust private-sector job creation and long-term economic growth.

"Our proposals would expand American energy production to create jobs and lower prices, make it easier for small businesses and start-ups to get the resources they need to grow, and help veterans returning home find work. They eliminate unnecessary restrictions that could hurt factories and farmers here in Ohio. And again: each of our jobs bills has passed with Democratic support; many are even included in the president's jobs plan.

"Unfortunately, at least 20 of these House-passed jobs bills are still being held up in the Democratic-controlled Senate. They're blocking these bills even after the Department of Labor released a report showing a national unemployment rate of 9 percent in the month of October -- the 33rd consecutive month where unemployment exceeded eight percent. With support from across the spectrum and confirmation from independent parties that our strategy will boost job growth, there is simply no reason for the Democratic-controlled Senate to delay these bills a second longer.

"More than two years after President Obama's "stimulus' was enacted the American people are still rightfully asking the question, "where are the jobs?' The House has been working all year on our Plan for America's Job Creators. It's time for President Obama to get engaged and join me in calling on Senate Democrats to finally act on these bipartisan jobs bills."

Boehner represents Ohio's 8th District, which includes all of Darke, Miami, and Preble counties, most of Butler and Mercer counties, and the northeastern corner of Montgomery County. He was first elected to Congress in 1990.

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