On the recordJuly 14, 2011
Madam Speaker, Americans are losing faith in our ability to get things done on their behalf. Today, that means addressing two problems at once: our long-term deficit and our unemployment crisis. The truth is these are two challenges, and these two challenges are two sides of the very same coin. So when Republicans say raising government revenue is off the table, I suppose that is why for months they refused to embrace one of the very best revenue raisers there is: job creation. Our deficit exploded when 8 million Americans lost their jobs in 2008. With 14 million jobless today, no debt deal of any size will work without a focus on jobs. Investing now in infrastructure, in energy, in education will not only create jobs; it will pay back dividends in the future. That's because putting Americans back to work, supporting their families, boosting productivity, and, yes, paying taxes is the government revenue raiser Republicans should join Democrats to get behind without delay. ____________________
