Lawmakers Split On Meaning Of New Job Numbers

By Rob Sanna - Talk Radio News Service

Two House members disagreed Friday over what the July job numbers really mean.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), Chair of the Joint Economic Committee, and Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas), the committee’s ranking Republican, each offered their own take on the report during a hearing this morning that featured testimony from a senior Labor Department official.

“Along with the failure of the massive, failed Democrat stimulus to put people back to work, except in federal government jobs, families and business fear the…job killing, anti-growth policies coming out of Washington,” said Brady.

“The signal of this Democratic Congress is clear: we”ll spend whatever taxpayer money it takes to save a government job, the rest of you American workers can take a hike,” he added.

Maloney, on the other hand, called the new figures encouraging, citing job increases in the private sector since President Obama took office. Maloney said the nation is experiencing economic recovery, even if the amount of growth was not as pronounced last month as it was earlier this year.

“The policies of this Democratic Congress quickly put into place this last year are working,” Maloney said.

“Without the actions taken by the administration, Congress, and the Federal Reserve, this recession would have been another great depression,” she added.

House Republican Conference Radio Row: House Health Care Bill Fundamentally Changes Government's Role In Peoples Lives, Says Texas Rep.

Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX) who called the health care vote one of the most historic votes since he's been in Congress. He goes on to say that warn that the House health care reform bill fundamentally changes the U.S. government's role in Americans' lives. (1:14)

Dem Health Care Plan A "Faustian Web Of Bureaucracy," Say GOP'ers

By Laura Woodhead - Talk Radio News Service

The Democratic health care plan will hurt the nation's economy as well as its health care system said House GOP leaders Wednesday. The Republicans spoke at a press conference during which they unveiled their visual representation of the Democrats' reform bill.

House Minority Leader Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) said that the Democrats' plan would worsen the current recession by destroying jobs as well as restricting Americans' options on health care.

"What this is going to do is ration care, limit the choices that patients and doctors have and really decrease the quality of the health care system." Boehner said. "If this isn't bad enough think about the giant increase in taxes that comes as a result of this, killing more jobs in America."

The Republicans also released a chart designed to make Americans skeptical of the Democrats' plan. The chart depicted thirty one new federal programs, agencies, commissions and mandates that would be created by the Democrats' plan. Such added bureaucracy would "get in between the patient and their health care provider," argued Rep. Kevin Brady (R- Texas.).



"The American people are asking how will all this will work, and today they get the first peek at how a government take over of health care would affect them." Brady said. "Why would any patient be forced to hand over control of their health care decisions over to this Faustian web of Washington Bureaucracy?"

Boehner asserted that the economy would suffer greatly if the bill is rushed through, arguing that the American public should view the plan for at least 72 hours so that they will know what's "in store for them."

"It's clear who is paying for this plan, and it is the small business men and women" Boehner said.

"It might make for a lovely board game but it makes for horrible health care system" said Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R- Mich.). "I would hope that [the Democrats] reconsider, focus on the economy, stop the insanity and start creating jobs."

This is just a bad bill

"I cannot support this bill", said Congressman Mike Pence (R-IN)

Today Mr. Pence held a GOP conference pertaining to the federal stimulus bill. Accompanying Pence was Congressman Kevin Brady (R-TX). Pence expressed his gratitude to President Obama for attending yesterday's town hall meeting in his home state. Pence stated that there is a strong consensus to take time to get this stimulus bill right. Pence wants to increase tax credits in the bill which he believes will give relief to small business owners. He also made clear that Republican's are determined to continue to stand for the kind of stimulus that will create jobs. Mr. Pence stated that he knows of no Republican that would like to do nothing regarding the economic crisis. He expressed concern that the American people need a stimulus that will work, and that a massive government spending does not stimulate the economy. Mr. Pence suggested that the goal is not to have every Republican vote against it but rather to produce a bill that would indeed stimulate the economy. Mr. Pence also stated that he greatly appreciates the President's outreach to Republican leaders, however; bipartisanship means more then stopping by. Pence discussed that Republican's have been completely excluded in this legislation but there is room for compromise in respect to infrastructure funding and extensive unemployment insurance.

By Candyce Torres, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service