'Misery' Claims are Wildly Out-of-Touch, Cornyn Says

'MISERY' CLAIMS ARE WILDLY OUT-OF-TOUCH, CORNYN SAYS

'Americans are not wallowing in misery-they're going back to work'

WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, made the following statement Monday regarding growth in the economy, and the "wildly out-of-touch" pessimism, manifested most recently in the release of a so-called Misery Index:

"Although the economy continues to grow at a record pace, there are still some on the campaign trail and in the Congress who are praying for failure. While the American people are increasingly optimistic in the U.S. economy, politicians who are wildly out-of-touch with reality continue to preach pessimism.

"Instead of wringing their hands and looking for new ways to down talk an economy on the rebound, Americans are building homes, growing jobs and investing in their future. As for the doom and gloom talk, well, they just aren't buying it.

"Americans have been, and will continue to be an optimistic workforce, and the data supports it. Jobless claims are at record lows, business activity is up and a significant indicator, homeownership, is now at record highs. Americans know better and they are not wallowing in misery-they're going back to work.

"Certainly, there is more that we can do to control the costs of health care, energy and higher education, and the Congress is working with the administration to do just that. Despite the need for reform, however, legislation to bring down health care and energy costs are being blocked in the Senate by those who prefer the "misery" issue over a cure. And aid for college tuition and support for community college workforce partnerships have increased under the President's and Senate-passed budgets.