What they said about Obama’s jobs speech
Published 12:01 am Friday, September 9, 2011
“The proposals the president outlined tonight merit consideration. We hope he gives serious consideration to our ideas as well. It’s my hope that we can work together to end the uncertainty facing families and small businesses, and create a better environment for long-term economic growth and privat
e-sector job creation.”
House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio.
“President Barack Obama laid out a set of bipartisan ideas to create jobs whose size and scope reflects the urgent need to put Americans back to work. Most of the ideas in this bill have been supported by both Democrats and Republicans. These are common-sense solutions for getting our economy moving again and spurring hiring in the private sector.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.
“With more than 1.7 million jobs lost since the administration’s last failed stimulus in February of 2009, I find it disappointing the president has waited this long to introduce a jobs program.”
Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C.
“The president’s plan is a solid foundation for Congress to build on. It strategically combines tax incentives for small businesses with targeted investments in American workers, the education of our children and improving our nation’s crumbling infrastructure. That said, I would have liked to have seen a greater emphasis on domestic energy production and a special focus on water and flood protection for the nation.”
Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La.
“Where we agree — like the need to pass the long pending, job creating trade agreements — we should act and act now. All we need is for the president to send Congress the agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea so the American people can begin to take advantage of the up to 250,000 jobs they will create. However, I was disappointed that the president did not discuss the one area that can truly spark sustained private-sector job creation in this country — comprehensive tax reform.”
Rep. Dave Camp, R-Mich., a member of the supercommittee on debt reduction.
“Now is the time to invest in the future of our country by creating opportunities and helping out of work Americans find jobs. Many of the president’s ideas have the potential to create jobs and spark the economy.”
Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va.
“Ultimately I think the problem is there are some things in there that are good, but by and large, it’s a proposal based on things that just won’t work, haven’t worked in the past and they won’t work in the future.”
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla.
“As we learn more in the days ahead about the details of the president’s plan, I am confident we will find even more initiatives that will help Minnesota’s citizens, businesses, and economy.”
Democratic Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton
“The president had a real opportunity to lay out a new approach to the economy that would inspire confidence among American families and businesses. While he put forward a few ideas that merit a closer look, much of the speech felt like the movie ‘Groundhog Day’.”
Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio.
“I call on my colleagues, from both sides of the aisle, to work together to pass legislation that will stimulate our economy as soon as possible. The American people cannot wait any longer.”
Rep. Steve Rothman, D-N.J.
