Reid Statement On October Employment Report

Statement

Nevada Senator Harry Reid released the following statement on the October employment report. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the economy added 271,000 private sector jobs in October, while unemployment rate fell to 5 percent:

"Today's strong employment report is good news for our country. It shows the economy is making big strides and Americans are feeling the effects of that progress through higher employment participation, rising wages and an increase in consumer spending. We have experienced sixty-eight consecutive months of job growth, and the economic picture continues to brighten for the middle class. Congress now has an opportunity to build on that growth.

"The bipartisan budget agreement the President signed into law this week is expected to add 340,000 new jobs in 2016 alone, thanks to the balanced sequester relief it provides to domestic and defense priorities. It will also maintain the full faith and credit of the United States and protect millions of seniors from the largest Medicare Part B premium and deducible increase in history.

"Despite this, two-thirds of Congressional Republicans voted against the agreement. They chose instead to side with the extreme voices in their party calling for holding the nation's finances hostage to advance a radical agenda. This is wrong. It is time to for Republicans to move past this destructive strategy and focus on helping the American people.

"Unfortunately, as we work to fund the government before the December 11 deadline, Republicans are threatening to use the appropriations process to push special interest, poison pill riders that attack vital middle class priorities. This is yet another dangerous example of Republicans using the threat of a government shutdown to push extreme, right-wing policies. Democrats will continue to stand united against such a strategy.

"The American people want us to work together to build on our country's economic success. They don't want partisan battles over unwinnable issues. I call on my Republican colleagues to join with Democrats and pledge to do away with poison pill riders that could result in a Republican-led government shutdown on December 11. Let us come together once again to form a bipartisan omnibus bill that funds all of government while supporting economic growth and protecting middle class Americans."

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