Political Quotes

Dick Durbin: “Take a look at the annual growth rate of private sector jobs under President Bush. You have to go all the way back to…”

On the recordMarch 9, 2004
Take a look at the annual growth rate of private sector jobs under President Bush. You have to go all the way back to President Hoover to see such a low growth rate, which had a negative growth rate of over 4 percent. Under President George W. Bush, we see here something that has not happened in this country for almost 70 years: the loss of private sector jobs because of a failed economic policy. Then when you take a look at the manufacturing jobs, that is where it is really painful. Manufacturing jobs are the best-paying jobs in Illinois and Michigan. We just had a hearing last Friday. Employees of Electrolux--was it in Greenville, MI?
Said by
Dick Durbin
Democratic · Illinois

Editor's note · Context

Discussing the impact of economic policies on private sector job growth during a Senate floor debate.

Share

More from Dick Durbin

Oct 13, 2026

To leave here without this being a law finalized to protect these young people … is painful, really painful. I don’t want them to feel like I’m abandoning them.

rollcall.com
Oct 10, 2026

The lowering of the FBI's hiring standards "threaten[s] to undermine the work of the FBI and pose a grave risk to the Bureau's integrity.

cbsnews.com
Oct 14, 2026

For decades, America has stood as the bastion of freedom against tyranny, and American presidents have embodied our nation’s resistance to tyrants. Putin is a tyrant.

durbin.senate.gov
Oct 13, 2026

The lack of community involvement and speed with which this project has moved forward raises questions about the role of private interests.

duckworth.senate.gov

Other voices in this conversation