Boehner Statement on the October Employment Report

WASHINGTON, DC – After this morning’s release of the U.S. Labor Department’s monthly employment report, House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) issued the following statement:

“Today’s report is a reminder that families and small businesses are hurting, and we need to be careful not to adopt policies that will only deepen their pain. The American people believe cutting taxes for families and small businesses is more likely to ‘stimulate’ the economy than increasing government spending on programs. We ought to listen to them. Republicans stand ready to work with President-elect Obama and our Democratic counterparts in Congress to enact an economic recovery bill that focuses on tax relief for working families and small businesses, rather than increased spending on government programs and higher taxes.

“House Republicans have put forth a plan that would do what Americans are asking Washington to do on the economy. President-elect Obama has expressed a desire to govern from the center. In that spirit, I’m hopeful he will give our plan his full consideration as he assembles his economic team – not for our sake, but for the sake of the American people, who are struggling in this economy.”

NOTE: Boehner last month put forth a Rapid Economic Recovery plan as an alternative to the “stimulus spending” approach advocated by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). The Pelosi plan would spend up to $300 billion on government programs, including transportation infrastructure spending. Prominent economists say it won’t work, and surveys show a significant majority of Americans believe cutting taxes would be more effective in getting the economy moving again. Outside experts from organizations such as the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) and the Heritage Foundation are also speaking out in favor of the approach favored by the American people and advocated by Republicans.