Mailbag: Republicans are working to create jobs

In an Oct. 8 letter, Violet Larsen challenges opponents of the “American Job Act” to provide “valid arguments against the proposal.” She further claims that Republicans “have not introduced any bills that create jobs.” This letter provides a response to those statements.

Rather than asking opponents to justify their position, it is incumbent on President Obama and supporters of the so-called “jobs bill” to justify why large, temporary increases in federal spending and permanent tax increases constitute sound economic policy.

History has shown that temporary spending does not create permanent jobs and sustained economic growth; when the temporary spending stops the jobs it “created” likely go away as well.

The February 2009 stimulus bill was supposed to cause the unemployment rate to peak at 8%, yet the actual unemployment rate following passage of that $1 trillion bill (including interest) peaked at 10.1%, was 9.4% or higher for 20 consecutive months and was 9% or greater for 27 of the 30 months since passage. Any claims regarding the short- and long-term economic benefits of the “jobs bill” must be thoroughly justified by its supporters.

Regarding the claim that Republicans have not introduced bills that create jobs, the following bills have been passed by the Republican-controlled House but as of Oct. 7 have not received a vote on the Senate floor:

H.R. 1229, Putting the Gulf of Mexico Back to Work Act; H.R. 872, the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act; H.R. 1231, Reversing President Obama’s Offshore Moratorium Act; H.R. 910, the Energy Tax Prevention Act; H.J.Res. 37, a resolution of disapproval regarding the FCC’s regulation of the Internet and broadband industry practices, H.R. 1230; Restarting American Offshore Leasing Now Act.

The House Republican Plan for America’s Job Creators can be found, both in full and as a one-page summary, at https://www.gop.gov/indepth/jobs.

Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nevada) twice blocked Republican attempts to vote on the “jobs bill” as proposed by Obama and introduced by Reid.

Through October, the current Senate has taken only 157 recorded votes versus a minimum of 213 and an average of 280 recorded votes during comparable periods of the previous five Senate sessions (2006 through 2010).

To get things done for the good of America, we need more than speeches; the Democrat-controlled Senate must take votes, be they pleasant or not. That is why they were elected.

Thomas R. Damiani

Newport Beach