*End of Year Extenders
"Thank you for being here. We talk in Washington about big numbers - billions, millions - of people. Too infrequently we talk about individuals, the Stans, the Veras, the Lisas of America that our actions affect immediately and directly on a daily basis.
A look at the first session of the 113th Congress shows that the Republican-led House of Representatives has not made progress on issues important to the American people. With 8 legislative days remaining in this year, the Republican leadership is poised to leave a long to-do list of critical legislation unfinished.
Wanted to make sure you all saw today’s scathing editorial in the New York Times lambasting House Republicans’ latest excuse to have no legislative agenda:
With less than 20 legislative days scheduled for the remainder of the year, there are a number of critical issues that Congress should take action on immediately.
I am very disappointed that the proposed UI extension will be paid for by increasing the retirement contributions made by new federal workers. When we work to protect the middle class, it is only right to protect them all, and federal workers are hardworking Americans who have already contributed $60 billion to deficit reduction over the next decade. Our deficit problems were not created by these men and women, and they will not be solved by only asking them to contribute. If we are going to address our deficit in a big, bold and balanced way, we must look beyond just federal workers and ask others to share in the contributions our deficit problems demand.
House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) discussed Republicans’ lack of a jobs plan and the need to extend payroll tax cuts, unemployment insurance and the Medicare physician payment rate before they expire on The Bill Press Show today.
Today marks 400 days since Republicans took control of the House majority and have not put forward a comprehensive jobs plan to help put more Americans back to work. After promising to focus on job creation and economic growth nine times since taking the majority, House Republicans have fallen short.
Today’s report showed our economy added 257,000 private sector jobs in January, lowering our unemployment rate to 8.3%. While it is a welcome sign that the pace of hiring has increased, and our economy experienced the twenty-third month of consecutive private sector job growth, 13 million Americans remain out of work and looking for jobs as we continue our still fragile recovery.
Over the past year, House Republicans have claimed over and over again that their focus is on jobs and the economy. Unfortunately, their record doesn’t match up with their rhetoric.
With less than a month left to take action on expiring items, Democrats are focused on extending middle class tax cuts and unemployment assistance, and fixing the Medicare physician pay rate. The American people cannot afford for Republicans to walk away from these expiring provisions like they did last December.