Dick Durbin: “What struck me was the agenda of America is not the agenda of Congress. I can't get over it. We return here to…”

“What struck me was the agenda of America is not the agenda of Congress. I can't get over it. We return here to Washington to discuss important matters but, frankly, ignore the essentials as far as families and businesses across America. The number one issue, of course, is jobs. My State has been hit so hard by this recession. We have lost 3 million jobs nationwide under President Bush's administration. It is the largest loss of private sector jobs under any President since the Great Depression--the largest loss of jobs under the Bush administration since Herbert Hoover during the Great Depression. Clearly, there has been a lack of economic leadership by this President. Clearly, his plan for the economy of America has failed. Giving tax cuts to the wealthiest people in America certainly wins applause at the country club, but it doesn't create jobs on Main Street--not in Illinois, not in Florida, not in Maine, and not across America.”