Reid On GOP: They Talk The Talk, Can't Walk The Walk

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Thursday that Republican lawmakers talk the talk, but don’t walk the walk when it comes to creating jobs.

“My Republican colleagues certainly pay lip service to the unemployment crisis in this country, but in the end actions speak louder than words,” Reid said.

Reid blasted lawmakers who opposed the president’s jobs plan and argued that they join the majority of Americans who support the provisions included in the legislation.

“Americans couldn’t care less who proposed the plan or who gets the credit,” Reid said. “The only thing they care about is that Congress gets to work putting them back to work.”

Treasury Official Notes Continued Gains In Private Sector

Assistant U.S. Treasury Secretary Alan Krueger held a briefing this morning to discuss the July unemployment figures. Krueger trumpted the fact that the private sector added jobs for the seventh straight month.

“We still have a long way to go before the economy is generating all of the jobs we need for the labor force,” he said. “Nonetheless, the fact that private sector employment has expanded for seven months in a row and that weekly work hours are recovering are indications that we are moving in the right direction.

Pelosi Blames GOP For Lackluster Job Numbers

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) just released the following statement regarding a report showing the unemployment rate remained at 9.5% during the month of July:

“This jobs report shows private employers and businesses taking the lead in our economic recovery — and a sharp turnaround from the 700,000 jobs per month lost under President Bush — despite Congressional Republicans fighting against the economic recovery every step of the way.”

“Today’s report shows our teachers, police officers, firefighters, and nurses are still feeling the worst of the Bush recession — while Republican leaders demean them as ‘special interests’ and try to block legislation that will grow our economy.  Democrats will return next week to save or create hundreds of thousands of jobs for our teachers, nurses, firefighters and police officers — and close loopholes that allow corporations to ship American jobs overseas.‪”

Republicans Blast Obama Over New Unemployment Numbers

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio)
“Welcome to the reality of President Obama’s broken promises, out-of-control spending sprees, and failing ‘stimulus’ policies.  After another disappointing jobs report and the resignation of one of the chief architects of the trillion-dollar ‘stimulus,’ it’s time for President Obama to listen to the American people and face up to the fact that his ‘stimulus’ policies aren’t working.  How many more times do families and small businesses have to ask ‘where are the jobs’ before President Obama changes course?  Our economy will ultimately recover, but it will do so because of the hard work and entrepreneurship of the American people.  Republicans are listening to the American people and offering better solutions to cut spending now and get people working again. “Today’s report should also cause House Democrats to reconsider beating a path back to Washington next week to double down on the same ‘stimulus’ policies that have led to fewer jobs and more debt.  The American people don’t want more Washington ‘stimulus’ spending – especially in the form of a political season pay-off to union bosses.  How about Washington Democrats do the right thing for a change and focus on helping small businesses?  Let’s work together to ease the uncertainty employers are up against and stop the Obama Administration’s job-killing tax hike on families and small businesses.” 

Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.)
“The American people keep asking ‘Where are the jobs?’ but the only answer from Washington Democrats is more spending and more taxes. Their economic policies have failed and nearly 15 million Americans are still struggling to find work. “Today’s unemployment report should be a wake-up call to Democrats and their plan to impose the largest tax increase in American history. Higher taxes won’t get people hired. Congress must act soon to ensure that there will not be any tax increases on January 1, 2011 for American families, small businesses and family farms.”

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.)
“How many more months of losing tens-of-thousands of jobs have to go by before the Obama Administration removes the blinders, stops the propaganda effort and concedes that this deficit spending, tax-raising, bailout-first mentality is unsustainable and threatening the future solvency of this nation?  For all of the effort being expended by the Obama Administration to convince Americans that their policies have ‘funded’ or ‘created and saved’ new jobs, the sobering reality is 18 months after the stimulus was signed into law, our economy is still hemorrhaging jobs. “Perhaps the most discouraging reality is that Speaker Pelosi and Harry Reid have allowed the Congress to recess so that members can focus more on keeping their jobs, rather than work on helping Americans finds jobs.  Instead of returning for one day, Congressional Democratic leaders should keep Congress in session for as long as it takes to enact policies that will cut the deficit, support small businesses and reduce the tax burden on all Americans.”