Hearing of the Congressional Progressive Caucus - Job Creation
Statement
"Good morning. I want to thank these distinguished panelists for lending their expertise today, and our outstanding CPC Co-Chairs Raul Grijalva and Keith Ellison for convening this hearing.
"If you want to hear about the challenges that real American families are facing, this is the place to be today. If you enjoy red herrings and distractions, then go ahead and chase the Super Committee story like just about everyone else in Washington.
"My problem with the Super Committee isn't just that they may come up with all the wrong answers. It's that they're asking the wrong questions. Instead of asking where and how much to cut, the question should be how to create jobs.
"The whole premise of the Super Committee is flawed. It's a solution in search of a problem. What is the matter of great urgency that is threatening the middle class and endangering the American Dream? What is it that's causing families to lose their homes, their savings and their economic security? It's not the deficit; it's the jobs crisis.
"What the economy needs and what Americans want is increased federal investment that will create jobs. So naturally the other side wants to do the opposite. Squeezing the budget -- which is the goal of the Republicans and the mandate of the Super Committee-- will only make our jobs crisis worse. I swear, I'm afraid if we get caught in a rainstorm with the majority, they'll call a vote for a Constitutional Amendment banning umbrellas.
"I go home every weekend. And I assure you, no one comes up to me -- whether it's at public events or at the grocery store -- to express anxiety about the size of non-defense discretionary spending. No, even in a relatively affluent area like mine, what's keeping them up at night is the shortage of good jobs.
"When members of the CPC went around this country on a listening tour this summer, they heard real fear and anger. Not because of deficits, but because there are no jobs in their communities.
"And do you think that people are living in tents in cities across America in protest over a little bit of red ink in the budget? No, what's given rise to that powerful grass roots movement is that there are no jobs out there, even for qualified and educated young people.
"We need prosperity, not austerity. We need a jobs agenda that is responsive to the real pain and the pressing need we hear about from our constituents every day. The President's jobs bill is an excellent start, but I think it could be even bigger, bolder and more ambitious.
"We have to put people back to work. Nine percent unemployment in the richest country in the world is morally unacceptable. And in the long run, creating jobs will solve the deficit problem, because people with jobs pay the taxes and fill the revenue gaps to bring the budget back into balance.
"Once again, I'm pleased that we're all here to break through the noise and focus on our country's biggest problem. I thank our outstanding witnesses for joining us and look forward to their testimony. "
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