Rock Island Argus - How I Spent 2011: Creating Jobs

Op-Ed

By Representative Bobby Schilling

I ran for Congress for several reasons, but the most important reason was to create jobs and defend America's private sector.

I refused to sit back and watch as my predecessor routinely voted for bills that undermined job creation at a time when we desperately needed economic recovery. Instead of complaining about our misguided leadership in Washington, I decided to do something about it. I ran for Congress to fight for the people of this district, and I continue that fight now in Washington.

As a working class small business owner, I understand how to create jobs. I believe a responsible government can play an important role in job creation by working to create an environment that encourages long-term private sector growth. An irresponsible government stymies growth by imposing an oppressive culture of overtaxation and overregulation, encouraging small businesses to downsize at a time when we desperately need jobs. Today in Washington we have an irresponsible government.

In the House, we've worked hard to be at the forefront of job creation. Last year, I supported more than 25 bipartisan jobs bills that passed the House but remain stalled in the do-nothing US Senate. These bills could have an immediate impact on our economy by incentivizing American-made energy, increasing access to capital for small businesses, reducing onerous regulations that continue to hold our job creators back, and by creating new opportunities for innovation and expansion.

Remember all the political drama about the payroll tax extension? I consistently voted to extend the payroll tax for a full year. In fact, the House acted first on this issue by passing HR3630, the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act. The Senate refused to support this bill, insisting on a shortened two-month extension. I thought this was a ridiculous idea. Can you imagine the hassle this would have created for accountants across the country, dealing with two different payroll tax rates for one fiscal year? While we fought to give small business owners and employees alike some certainty in a tough economy, liberals in the Senate decided to play political games at the expense of their constituents.

I wish this were a unique situation, but unfortunately, this is what too many have come to expect from Washington. The House acts, while the Senate distracts. It can be very frustrating, especially for some of my constituents who desperately need jobs now.

Fortunately, we've been able to find ways to work around the dysfunction in Washington. Along with my friend Rep. Dave Loebsack, I was able to secure new bipartisan language in the National Defense Authorization Act to bring more manufacturing jobs to the Rock Island Arsenal. Not only will this help improve the Rock Island Arsenal's capacity to strengthen its manufacturing abilities, but it has the potential to bring hundreds of good jobs to the Quad Cities.

We're now starting to see a major push for a long-term transportation infrastructure bill in the House. I'm working with another friend, Rep. Aaron Schock of Peoria, to promote legislation that will help shore up our nation's crumbling infrastructure and revitalize our economy by creating thousands of jobs. This bill is fiscally responsible, as it would be completely paid for by new offshore drilling starts, increasing our energy independence in the process.

I'm concerned that our manufacturing sector has been overlooked in recent years. I support bipartisan legislation introduced by Rep. Dan Lipinski that would launch a national push to revitalize our manufacturing sector. I'm also backing legislation introduced by Rep. Don Manzullo that paves the way for manufacturing reinvestment accounts that offer manufacturing companies tax incentives to invest in equipment and job training. Additionally, I believe we must lower the corporate tax rate and knock down trade barriers so our country can compete. Our workers are the best and brightest in the world -- why aren't we making more products here in the United States?

It's hard to discuss jobs without mentioning the Keystone XL Pipeline. This promising project would create more than 20,000 jobs, improve our infrastructure, and increase our energy independence. Inexplicably, the Obama Administration chose to shut this project down, prioritizing the wishes of a few dozen lobbyists over the will of the people.

Folks, we have a lot of work to do. I won't rest until each one of these bipartisan jobs bills is passed. It'd sure help if the Senate and President would work with us. Unfortunately, career politicians tend to be more interested in campaigning than governing. That's a shame -- we could get a lot more done with their help.

I didn't go to Washington to play political games. I went to Washington to fight for jobs here in our district, and I'm going to keep doing just that in 2012.

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