Dems Switch Focus to Jobs

House aims to have job creation package ready by Xmas

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 17, 2009 7:35 AM CST

(Newser) – House Democrats hit by accusations they've been focusing on health care at the expense of employment plan to tackle job creation in the coming weeks. There's no consensus on whether the move will come as one big package or a series of smaller measures but Democratic leaders plan to have legislation in place by Christmas, congressional aides tell The Hill.

The House is following in the footsteps of Harry Reid, who announced last week that he plans to introduce a Senate measure to create jobs. The House is expected to focus on a bill to massively expand highway construction, which has met opposition from both the Senate and the White House, and may also offer more small-business tax breaks aimed at generating jobs. Whatever form the job creation measures take, liberal and moderate Democrats agree that it won't be labeled a "stimulus."

[Images (1)]

[Quotes (1)]

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi addresses an audience at the John F. Kennedy School of Government on the campus of Harvard University, in Cambridge, Mass., Friday, Nov. 13, 2009. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

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We continue to look for opportunities to build on the recovery package and other actions Congress has taken to bolster the economy. - Nadeam Elshami,
spokesman for Nancy Pelosi

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 29 comments

tomodachi

Nov 18, 2009 10:16 AM CST

@godawgs: First off, the article doesn’t adequately support your claim that “the rate of decline fell because people have been on unemployment so long they can't claim benefits anymore,” The USA Today article lists that as a very small part of the many reasons why people don’t qualify for UE. The largest reason being: They don’t typically qualify for it due to insufficient work history or some other reason. Facts are facts: What the democrats are doing to improve the economy… is working. BTW… I found it interesting that the article also mentions that republican state legislators have been stopping UE benefit extensions for their states (Texas, Louisiana, South Carolina, Mississippi and Alabama). The republicans in Virginia even voted down a proposal to expand UE benefits to people who would not normally receive them. Your article doesn’t support your claims, but they do support mine. While I’m not in love with the crap either of the 2 parties pull… I’d much rather see a democrat in the white house than a republican… because the republicans don’t care how much they hurt the working people who pay the taxes. AT least the democrats are willing to spend tax dollars on taxpayers; something your article clearly shows the republicans refusal to do. Lastly, concerning your claim that GWB is not at fault with the worst US economy since the great depression? BS. The buck stops at the president's desk. Facts are Facts: GWB signed into creation, the largest US national debt of any president ever… including obama… who is admirably fixing GWB’s damage, even though he’s forced to spend from inheriting the second worst economy ever. GWB is the WORST president ever. And nothing you say will change that fact. If you don’t like him being blamed for the economic mess HE made… then I suggest you stop reading my posts.

hybrid

Nov 18, 2009 1:22 AM CST

@tom Correction: Obama in 9 months has already out spent GWB.....10 trillion to 12 trillion in just the debt side.

BlueAyez

Nov 17, 2009 10:01 AM CST

They better get going. 2010 is just around the corner.

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Nancy Pelosi • Harry Reid • unemployment • House Democrats • economic stimulus package • job creation • unemployment rate

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Dems Switch Focus to Jobs