DeGette Statement on President Obama's Jobs Address

Statement

U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (CO-1) released the following statement after listening to President Barack Obama outline his bipartisan plan to get America back to work.

"While we were home for the district work period, every Member of Congress heard the same refrain again and again-- Jobs, Jobs, Jobs. The American people are frustrated with a stagnant economy and with a government that is not addressing their most urgent needs.

"Tonight the President presented Congress with a plan of reasonable, balanced ideas that will get our nation back to work, and a plan that, because of long-held bipartisan support for most of these ideas, should be able to break through the stalemate of the past several months.

"I am particularly pleased the ideas the President proposed will provide relief for everyone, helping American families across the spectrum hurting so much from this economic crisis. Teachers, firefighters, policemen, construction workers, and the small businesses that are the backbone of our nation will all benefit from these proposals, and get the economy moving again. I am also pleased that not only will the President's plan address our most urgent short-term need to create jobs, because it is already paid for, it will not undermine our efforts to get our fiscal house in order for the long-term.

"For too long the political gamesmanship and gridlock has stood in the way of Congress providing real solutions to create jobs for Americans. Unfortunately tonight that intransigence was once again on display, as my Republican colleagues visibly refused to support the idea that everyone in our country -- including the wealthiest among us -- should contribute their fair share to our recovery.

"In the coming weeks, I look forward to reviewing the specifics of the President's proposal, and I hope my colleagues will put aside the ideology we saw tonight and work with us to pass a bipartisan jobs package; finally putting country ahead of politics, getting Americans back to work, and our nation's economy moving again."

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