Christina Romer, Republicans Give Spin on Jobs Report

CBS/iStockphoto

The Labor Department reported today that the unemployment rate remained unchanged in the month of July at 9.5 percent. The White House and Republicans used the data from the latest report to advocate for entirely different policies.

White House economic adviser Christina Romer, who announced yesterday evening she is retiring next month, said the disappointing report proves the need for more government intervention in order to revive the economy.

Republicans, meanwhile, used the news to blast the president's economic policies and call for across-the-board extended tax relief.

Today's report revealed a net total of 131,000 jobs lost last month, mostly because of the end of 143,000 temporary Census jobs. Some permanent government jobs were also lost, but private employers added a net total of 71,000 jobs.

"Today's employment report emphasizes just how important the additional jobs measures before Congress are," Romer wrote in a White House blog post. "In addition to the state fiscal relief nearing passage, the President strongly supports the small business jobs bill and targeted incentives for clean energy investments."

Romer added that the loss of government jobs at the state and local levels underscores "the importance of the additional state fiscal relief working its way through Congress."

Republican Study Committee Chairman Tom Price (R-Ga.), however, said the Democrats' economic policies would not stimulate private sector growth. He also blasted the $26 billion aid package that passed in the Senate this week, even though it will not add to the deficit.

"Inexplicably, Democrats are still fully committed to a job-killing agenda of outrageous deficits, tax hikes on small businesses, and mounting uncertainty for employers and families," Price said in a statement. "In fact, they're so committed to this job-killing agenda that their Leadership is willing to drag Congress back into session next week to throw another $26 billion into their failed 'stimulus' boondoggle."

House Republican Whip Eric Cantor, meanwhile, responded to the news by calling for an extension of all of the Bush tax cuts. They are set to expire at the end of this year, and President Obama wants to extend all of them, except for individuals making $200,000 or families making $250,000.

"On January 1, one of two things will happen: taxes will increase or taxes will stay the same as they are today," Cantor said in a statement. "Economists, entrepreneurs and small business owners know that raising taxes during tough economic times, while millions of people remain out of work is nonsensical. If the goal is to get people working again, President Obama and the Pelosi/Reid Congress shouldn't make it harder for job creators to hire."

[KIMBERLYSUF]

If Obama cares about the economy why is he considering the transfer $307 million from the Federal Highway Trust Fund fund--normally used to aid states with highway construction--and earmark it for so-called livable communities grants. The act would create grant programs at HUD that seek to foster so-called sustainable communities, very high-density residential and commercial districts connected by public transportation.
--- Once again our tax dollars at work screwing the taxpayers --- it would be nice to see taxes going to help the economy instead of special interests for a change --- typing ACORN HUD in search box answers some questions. The following 2 links outline some of the corruption in this administration, and previous administrations.
-investors.com HUD's New Slush Funds, Thanks To FinReg 07/29/2010
-spectator.org ACORN Housing Boom 3.2.10

[KIMBERLYSUF]

-articlesbase-com - click on news and society in articles category ? enter in search box, IS OBAMA A SOCIALIST? and listed is: Brief Biography Of Barack Obama, Obama is the gray man, born and great in the cultural crossroads that make him find difficulty at the beginning of the period of his life. Son of a Kenyan with jet and mother of United States with as white as milk, grew up in a simple ... Feb 26, 2009; another heading is - A list of family, friends, and advisers that can be/are linked to socialism, or total government control. Jul 15, 2010; - enter THE LIBERAL MAINSTREAM MEDIA AND OBAMAS' ADMINISTRATION HAVE A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP ? describes how the media, and the White House protects liberal views, but conveniently bypasses, and demonizes conservative views Jul 21, 2010; - enter ARIZONA ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION LAW IS A CLONE OF THE FEDERAL ICE 287 PROGRAM - mentions When Senor Wences, Felipe Calderon, from Mexico criticizes Arizona's law, something is blatantly wrong. How can Mexico's President, who enforces harsh immigration law/s, and knows little about Arizona's problems be given creditability? ? Eric Holder calls SB1070 possibly unconstitutional, without reading the law. In the bill, racial profiling is specifically addressed, and prohibited; and if Arizona wants to enforce the same rules as Feds 287 program, Arizona is racist? Jul 13, 2010 -enter THE END JUSTIFIES THE MEANS 2010-07-28 - Climate legislation could be have a symbiotic relationship with Goldman Sachs, many of Sachs ex-employees are bureaucrats working in the White House; -enter IS THERE ENOUGH TIME FOR VOTING REFORMATION ? 2010-07-30 - There is a lot of corruption in the election process ? if election reforms aren't in place, in November the will of the American citizens may once again get bypassed. The Democrats, as a whole seem to not know what most Americans know, and Democrats keep passing any bill that is sponsored by their party --- they are still playing by the same old rules, but the results are killing CAPITALISTIC/PRIVATE enterprise, basically free America; -enter IN THE PRESENT BUREAUCRAT CREATED CRISIS, ELECTION REFORM IS IMPERATIVE 2010-07-24 - Please consider the reforms necessary for November elections. The current elitists schemes are putting people in debt for decades, destroying private enterprise, and capitalism ? stimulating gov. ideals more than creating jobs, and are remaking America into a socialist state/monocracy; the freedoms we had before this administration took power will never be seen again; -enter In November do people want THE USUAL big government takeover tactics, or do they want to GO BACK to a semi-private/CAPITALISTIC society 2010-07-28 -The far left is against capitalism, and for government control, they are finding scapegoats in private entities. A major reason for this is people have not been involved in politics, and what their representatives are doing, allowing the far left to take over the White House; -enter ANOTHER UNECESSARY TAX --- ISN'T SOCIALISM WONDERFUL 2010-07-22 - State Childrens' Health Insurance Program. This program expands public health coverage to many children who would otherwise have been enrolled in a private health insurance program. Evidently a 61 cent increase in cigarette tax went to the SCHIP program.

THE PRIVATE SECTOR SHOULD CONTROL THEIR DESTINY, THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT, NOT FORCED BY THE GOVERNMENT.
"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent."
~ Thomas Jefferson

[newsbarn]

The Bush tax cuts took effect in 2003 folks....so wheres the jobs? Its been 7 years! There were less jobs when Bush left office than when he came in! So how do you figure those tax cuts created jobs?????????? duh

[RobAla]

OK - if the Republicans comment on the stinking state of unemployment, it is "spin". If the President who is in the process of extending this miserable economy speaks, it is the gospel truth?

"Republican Study Committee Chairman Tom Price (R-Ga.), however, said the Democrats' economic policies would not stimulate private sector growth. He also blasted the $26 billion aid package that passed in the Senate this week, even though it will not add to the deficit."

What is spin about that? If the federal government expands itself at the expense of private businesses and individual taxpayers, how can you expect private businesses to grow and create jobs. This is pretty obvious.

[RobAla]

The fact of the matter is that unemployment has been at least 9.5% for over a year. No spin. The President has been more concerned with federal government expansion at the expense of businesses and taxpayers, than concerned with jobs. Talk is talk. Action is action. We should judge a man more by what he does, rather than what he says.

We have seen recessions, and we know what has worked in the past. Look at what Reagan did.

[MurdochSucks]

Spent us into a whole and then raised taxes to cover it. So we should do the same in this situation.

[bigtexdaddy]

We have seen his policies. We have seen his actions. We have seen what he does. We have seen his recession and it's not getting any better. If you had read the Reagan Diaries, and studied what he did to pull us out of the slump we were in, he cut taxes, cut government spending and those actions created millions of jobs. Clinton rode the coattails of the economic tide that Reagan created. He also had the techno boom so that in itself added to the financial success to the country. Well that techno boom is all but gone and the jobs have been moved overseas. Our cars are made in Mexico and Canada. We don't manufacture much of anything in the US anymore. Why? It's cheaper to have it done in these third world countries where labor costs are so low. Why are ours so high? Labor unions. Absolutely worthless labor unions that do nothing besides screw their members and the American txpayers. Then there are all of the governmental regulations of being in business, and to top it all off, there are the TAXES. Other countries want our businesses because of the wages they bring, not the tax revenues they generate off the products built. You want to know why we are in such a terrible mess, look no further than your freindly state senator or congressman. If they vote for tax increases, federally mandated healthcare, cap and trade, or additional regulations on our finanicial system, THEY are the problem. I don't much care if they have an R or a D behind their names. If they vote against the will of the people, vote for bills without reading AND understanding them, throw in additional funding for projects that have nothing to do with the bill they are about ot vote on because "no one will ever know", then they need to go away. VOTE with your pocketbook, not your heart, and you will have a successful recovery.

[MurdochSucks]

Small and medium businesses create jobs. Big businesses destroy them, that's how they become more profitable: economies of scale. So, Republicans are always touting being business friendly, yet the support tax cuts which profit larger businesses more than small businesses. In my opinion, corporate taxes should be graduated like personal income taxes. The more money they make, the higher percentage they pay in taxes. The bigger the corporations get the fewer jobs are available and people have to accept what they can get. All of these Republican philosophies favor big businesses, they have since Reagan started destroying our economy. Let's get rid of them, and the stupid, short-sited economic policies. Also, giving rich people more tax relief doesn't mean that they will create jobs or spend more money, like Fox pundits like to describe. They don't do this at all, they horde the money, which takes it out of circulation. When you give tax breaks to the middle class they tend to spend all of it which keeps it in circulation. Overall tax breaks for rich and corporations is just a terrible idea for middle-class Americans. Plain and simple, don't be fooled because you think you might be allowed into some club when you start making your millions.

[P0ST1ING_AWAY]

by cleantheDCcesspool August 6, 2010 7:04 PM EDT
Please quit trying to help, obamao, you must be getting tired of "not resting" until the jobs picture improves .................
=========================================================
Why can't Obama create the kind of employment program Bush
created ??? You know ... TWO WARS ?????
I am enthusiastic about you and your Neocon-Moron-Tea-Bagger
brethren taking advantage of that employment program.
The thought of you morons on the battle field .... yelling
your right-wing-idiot propaganda at the Taliban ... just
gives me goose-bumps !!!!

[MurdochSucks]

lol, nice.

[Panchester]

Excellent. Thank you !!
You made my day.
I am so glad I am not on your side (if I was I would really start questioning myself). Talk about goose-bumps !!!

[rightbehind]

Throw the trade barriers up! You want to sell it here you better make it here or it gets taxed. Don't let the neocons take advantage of desperation in third world countries. It's time the sheeple wake up and realise who the enemy is.

[rightbehind]

For those that still have good jobs if you want to keep them you would be smart to throw republicans out of office. They have a jobs plan alright. Make every job "at will" part time employment without benefits. They'll double the number of job openings. You might end up working 3 jobs just to hold your standard of living. Republicans and most of the wealthy feed on desperation. You want to keep what you have throw republicans out.

[dialectician101]

Republicans fooled the American people with this tax cuts for the most wealthy and deregulation garbage before when Bush was president. The result was our jobs going overseas, economic collapse, massive deficit and the BP oil disaster. They must think the American people are really dumb. Actions speak louder than Fox misinformation. Last week Republicans blocked campaign finance reform again and the bills that would have helped small business and created jobs. When you cut through all the lies, jingoism, hate mongering and race-baiting Republicans are busy selling us out to big business.

[jmlm4245]

Here we go again. First of all, this 26 Billion jobs bill is for the UNIONS!! The unions told Nancy, Harry and Obama that by golly they borrowed $100,000,000. to get them control of the WH, Senate, and House. Look at the source of the bail out money. All Unions. Also, look at the cities the money is going to. All Blue cities. You guys need to wake up and smell the coffee. Your Liberal president does not intend to do anything for you that won't promote "his" agenda. Why don't they just take some of the stimulus that hasn't been spent for the Unions? Think I'm wrong? Google it.

As far as the tax cuts go. You better hope the Bush tax cuts don't expire. If Obama let's them expire, this country will go into a Depression. I also challenge you to go to FactCheck and see how Pelosie has been lying about "jobs" Bush lost. I'm on the blogisphere all the time, and I'm tired of having to point people to the truth. The news media, including CBS, NBC, ABC, and all the cable news media and pretty much every newspaper, weekly mag should be doing it, so I won't have to. If the Republicans are selling us out to big business, please explain to me why Government Motors is building their next plant in Mexico. Or do you even know that piece of information? I don't see it in the MSM headlines anywhere. Why does just an old grandma know that?