*American Jobs Act

The plan put forward by the President today is a balanced approach to create jobs in the short-term and bring down the deficit over the long-term. It asks everyone to pay their fair share, strengthens Medicare and Medicaid for future generations while protecting beneficiaries, and emphasizes the need for immediate job creation. It lays out how the Joint Select Committee can go beyond their mandated deficit reduction requirement, which I believe is essential to getting a handle on our nation’s deficit. I also support the President’s call for tax reform that would help grow the economy and reduce the deficit by lowering rates and closing wasteful loopholes that only benefit the wealthy and special interests.

What the President offered was a getting jobs now bill. He wants American jobs to be created as soon as possible and offered a comprehensive package, which is related to one another, putting money in the hands of businesses so they can hire and grow jobs, putting money in the hands of consumers so they will be able to purchase goods.

With President Obama sending the American Jobs Act to Congress on Monday, we here in the Democratic Whip Press Office thought we would take a look back at Congressional Republicans’ words and votes on many of the ideas central to President Obama’s proposal.

The President has delivered the American Jobs Act to the Hill, and I urge Republican leaders to bring this bill to the Floor as soon as possible. For nine months Republicans have not put forward a jobs plan or taken action to put Americans back to work. The American Jobs Act incorporates ideas that have bipartisan support, and it is paid for by closing wasteful tax loopholes to oil companies and for corporate jets while taking steps toward ensuring the wealthy pay their fair share. A number of provisions are similar to elements of House Democrats’ Make It In America agenda to create manufacturing jobs and lift the middle class. I hope Republicans will put politics aside so that we can pass the American Jobs Act quickly.