Cliff Stearns: “Good morning, Mr. Speaker. With the United States unemployment rate steadily hovering around 10 percent, Americans are…”

“Good morning, Mr. Speaker. With the United States unemployment rate steadily hovering around 10 percent, Americans are continuing to ask, ``Where are the jobs?'' The response to this jobless crisis from congressional Democrats and the Obama administration seems to be focused on higher taxes, increased government spending, and more government mandates and regulation. All of this has led to great uncertainty in the business community, especially among small businesses which employ over half of all private sector employees. In a recently released letter, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce explains how the current policies of the administration and congressional Democrats are not working. The high spending and high tax agenda has created an atmosphere of uncertainty. As the Chamber's letter correctly states, ``Uncertainty is the enemy of growth, investment, and job creation. Through their legislative and regulatory proposals--some passed, some pending, and others simply talked about--the congressional majority and the administration have injected tremendous uncertainty into the economic decision-making process and business planning. This is why banks are reluctant to lend and why American corporations are sitting on well over a trillion dollars. It is why America's small businesses and entrepreneurs, the engines of innovation and job creation, are starving for capital and are either struggling to survive or simply unable to expand.”