Jobs Report Highlights Democrats’ Failure of Leadership in the Economy

“This is something that I ask every single one of my economic advisers every single day, because I know that ultimately the measure of an economy is, ‘is it producing jobs.’”

- President Obama (CNN’s “State of the Union,” 9/20/09)

Congressman Bill Shuster released the following statement after the Department of Labor released its September jobs report, which showed the national unemployment rate has increased to 9.8 percent, or 263,000 jobs lost last month. The economy continues to keep pace with the highest national unemployment rate since 1983:

“Another month, another bad unemployment report from Washington. This refrain has been going on far too long and it is time for the Democrats in Congress and the President to stop their failed ‘go it alone’ strategy on the economy that has done nothing but spend us into historic levels of debt and grow an endlessly hungry federal government.

Close to 3 million jobs – 3 million – have been lost since the Democrats passed their stimulus bill that they promised would grow the economy and halt unemployment at 8 percent. Their plan failed, but instead of changing course and learning from their mistakes, the Democrats continue to push job killing policies on America all the while deaf to the objections of the people they were elected to serve.

Instead of pushing through a crippling national energy tax and a trillion dollar takeover of the American healthcare system, Democrats should open their minds to Republican alternatives that are focused on restoring fiscal responsibility and getting Americans back to work.”