Walberg Weekly Wrap-Up: "Michigan Needs Good-Paying Jobs, Iraq Update"

Statement

The U.S. Department of Labor recently released its March jobs report, and the report confirms what we in Michigan already know: jobs are getting tougher to come by. The report showed a loss of 80,000 jobs in the United States during March.

During these tough economic times, creating good-paying jobs is number one on my priority list. Over the past few weeks, I've hosted at least 15 public forums, and at each of these events, the conversation was dominated by talk of how to bring back jobs to Michigan.

While times are tough in Michigan and across America, I know we can come back, and in Congress, I am taking practical steps to encourage the creation of good-paying jobs and economic growth. Our economic slowdown gives Democrats and Republicans the chance to work on meaningful solutions that create jobs and allow small businesses to grow.

For example, our American auto manufacturers spend $20 billion a year on research and development, and I am working with my colleagues to pass the Investment in America Act (H.R.2138) to extend the research and development tax credit. Passing this bill would allow Michigan to keep high-tech, high-paying jobs and encourage further investment.

I have co-sponsored the Capital Gains Inflation Relief Act (H.R.1261), which would stop American families, small business owners and family farmers from being taxed on gains that came simply from inflation. This legislation would provide homeowners, farmers and business owners tax fairness and encourage investment and saving.

Leadership in the House is pushing a massive $680 billion tax increase on families and job providers, and I am strongly fighting this ill-timed, bloated bill. Michigan's economic turnaround depends on manufacturers innovating, growing and expanding, and higher taxes will prevent manufacturers from even thinking about growing.

Congress must tighten its belt and foster a climate where good-paying jobs can be created. This is common sense. Just as you make sacrifices in your life when money gets tight, Washington, D.C. needs to do the same right now so that our economy can stabilize and grow again.

Despite continuing challenges, America achieving success in Iraq
General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker return to Capitol Hill April 8-9 to provide an update on American efforts in Iraq. Both the General and Ambassador will share significantly better news than during their last Congressional briefing in September 2007.

According to a recent study, terrorist activities killed 1,087 in Baghdad during February 2007, but that number dropped to 178 in January 2008. Iraq is rebuilding its infrastructure and communities are beginning to blossom again.

Many in Michigan are tired of the cost of the Iraq War, and I understand these frustrations. Though undeniable progress is being made in Iraq, an immediate withdrawal of American troops would be a significant setback in our comprehensive battle against terrorists.

I am confident General Petraeus has Iraq moving in the right direction. He told me personally that a carbon copy of America should not be expected in Iraq, nor is it necessary, but Iraq must continue to become more independent and accept greater responsibility. This is exactly what Americans should expect to hear from our leadership in Iraq. Iraq has the potential to be a stable democratic state and U.S. ally, and most importantly, a state that does not harbor terrorists.

Right now, Iraqi military forces are fighting alongside American troops against Al-Qaida terrorists, and as we saw recently in Basra, Iraqis are increasingly taking more responsibility for their own security. The Iraqi army is stepping up and now suffers three times the casualties suffered by U.S. troops. Overall, causalities have declined.

Just as we are driving terrorists out of Afghanistan and monitoring terrorist cells worldwide, American and Iraqi forces must continue working in Iraq against foreign-backed terrorists, and fighting these terrorists in Iraq makes Americans safer here in the United States.

Source