In Light of Another Disappointing Jobs Report, GOP Leader Again Calls on President Obama to Stop Job-Killing Tax Hikes, Fire Economic Team

Contact: Michael Steel, Kevin Smith, 202-225-4000

WASHINGTON, Sept. 3 /Standard Newswire/ -- The Department of Labor reported this morning that the U.S. economy lost jobs for the third straight month in a row despite the Obama Administration's promise of a "Recovery Summer."  Additionally, the report showed that the nation's unemployment rate rose to 9.6 percent.  Unemployment has been above nine percent for 16 consecutive months despite Obama Administration projections that the trillion-dollar 'stimulus' would keep unemployment below eight percent.

In a statement, House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) again called on President Obama to change course and take immediate action to end the ongoing economic uncertainty and help more Americans find an honest day's work:

"A year that began with Americans bracing for a jobless recovery has instead turned into a full-blown search for both jobs and a recovery.  President Obama's agenda represented 'change' once, but now it is time for him to change course, abandon his job-killing policies, and find himself a new economic team.  We need a Congress and a White House that will listen to the American people, who are asking 'where are the jobs?,' and help end the uncertainty for small businesses.

"The nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation, Congress's official tax scorekeeper, estimates that the tax hike endorsed by President Obama and his economic team will raise taxes on 50 percent of the small business income in America.  We will not solve our fiscal challenges until we cut spending and have real economic growth -- and we won't have real economic growth if we keep raising taxes on small businesses.  Desperate to stop the bleeding, Washington Democrats are reportedly considering 'emergency' stimulus measures that would protect these job-killing tax hikes despite a growing bipartisan consensus that they need to be stopped.

"This month, Republicans will lay out a clear and positive governing agenda focused on cutting Washington spending and getting people working again.  This agenda is being built from the ground up by listening to the American people -- not political-season panicking among Washington insiders.  This blueprint is sure to take into account the better solutions Republicans have consistently offered over the last 19 months, including the 'no-cost jobs plan' Republicans first presented to President Obama last December.  Our economy will ultimately recover, but it will do so because of the hard work and entrepreneurship of the American people."

NOTE: Last month, in an economic address at The City Club of Cleveland, Leader Boehner called on President Obama to change course and take five immediate actions to end the ongoing economic uncertainty and help more Americans find an honest day's work:

• Work with Republicans to Stop Job-Killing Tax Hikes on Families and Small Businesses.
   
• Veto Job-Killing Lame-Duck Bills, Including a 'Cap-and-Trade' National Energy Tax and 'Card Check.'
   
• Call on Democratic Leaders to Stop Obstructing Republicans' Efforts to Repeal ObamaCare's Job-Killing '1099 Mandate.'
   
• Work With Republicans to Cut Federal Spending to 2008 Levels -- Before The Trillion-Dollar 'Stimulus' Was Implemented. 
   
• Ask For -- And Accept -- The Resignations of the Remaining Members of His Economic Team.