Boehner v. Pelosi: House Leaders Spar Over Significance of Jobs Report
EmailABC News’ John R. Parkinson reports:
Speaker of the House John Boehner and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi reacted to the fresh data released this morning on two key economic indicators, disagreeing on the importance of the mixed report and disputing the best way forward to improve the economy.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics announced this morning that the U.S. economy added 103,000 jobs during December – which was worse than economists’ forecasts, but still enough to push the jobless rate down four-tenths of a point to a 19-month low at 9.4 percent unemployment.
“Any signs of job growth are encouraging, but 9.4 percent unemployment and a $14 trillion debt are by no means adequate to get our economy growing,” Boehner said in a statement Friday morning. “Hard work lies ahead to reduce uncertainty, start creating jobs again, and restore confidence in our economy.”
Boehner, R-Ohio, stated that despite the noteworthy improvement to the unemployment rate, the jobs report underscores the need to cut spending in order to grow the economy, which he said are “the priorities of the new House majority.”
“It isn’t new faces Americans are looking for – it’s new policies that will cut spending and grow our economy,” Boehner said. “We have already implemented reforms to make it easier to cut spending, and cut our own budget to demonstrate our commitment to making real cuts and tough choices.”
Across the aisle, the House’s top Democrat emphasized that the private sector added jobs for the 12th straight month, crediting the legislative accomplishments of the Congress when Democrats held control of the House.
“Today’s jobs report provides evidence that the policies of the Democratic-led Congress are helping to create jobs and revitalize our economy – adding more jobs in 2010 than President Bush did over eight years,” Pelosi, D-California, said. “Building on the progress of the December jobs numbers – marking the last full month of Democratic leadership of the House – we will continue to measure every proposal by whether it creates jobs, strengthens our middle class, and reduces the deficit.”
Boehner said that the Republican majority’s efforts to repeal the health care reform law passed by the Democratic Congress last year will lead a path towards a full economic recovery.
“Today, we will take the first steps towards repealing the job-killing health care law, so we can replace it with reforms that will lower costs and protect jobs,” Boehner said. “Our economy will ultimately recover, but it will do so because of hard work and entrepreneurship, not more wasteful Washington spending.”
Pelosi disagreed, and said that repealing the law would increase the deficit and do further damage to the economy, citing a CBO report on the repeal that was released Thursday.
“With so many Americans still looking for work, now is not the time to reverse course,” Pelosi said. “Republicans must join Democrats in focusing on putting people to work, instead of making their top priority repealing critical patient protections, putting insurance companies back in charge of the health of the American people and blowing a $230 billion hole in the deficit.”
Biden Reflects on Grief, Suicidal Thoughts 
Is Congress Sounding Dumber?
pelosi is no longer a leader of anything.she cant block anything.
Posted by: catman | January 7, 2011, 12:39 pm 12:39 pm
Pelosi is still trying to be significant, but I am sure she knows she is not.
Posted by: lfrichar | January 7, 2011, 1:00 pm 1:00 pm
Catman – Stay out of the catnip. I am so tired of people dissing Nancy. Nancy has done a great job considering she has had to deal with obstructionist repugnicans. I am glad Nancy is still there; its people like you who gave us GWB. Everyone needs healthcare; why are we so hateful in America? We cant move forward because we continue to fight each other.I don’t mind paying more taxes (and I am not rich)if it means helping someone. We have become a greedy and selfish country and we are not blessed and continue to struggle because of this. Also, some of us are still racist – yes, I went there, its the truth. You are mad because we have a black president, well, get over yourselves, he’s doing a good job and I don’t care what any of you say; now deal with that!!
Posted by: Martin | January 7, 2011, 1:07 pm 1:07 pm
Pelosi is very relevant on this issue. The Republicans are DEAD MEN WALKING.
You can twist and shout all you want and even slow down funding for the bill. It will be to no avail. All the bills in the world look good in the HOUSE. You fail to acknowledge the SENATE RULES. End of story!
Posted by: Topgun2048 | January 7, 2011, 1:08 pm 1:08 pm
Martin | Jan 7, 2011 1:07:03 PM
So locking the GOP out of negotiations is “dealing with them”? She passed her BS insurance legislation without one GOP vote, so how was she obstructed again? Oops, simple facts getting in the way of your partisan rant?
Posted by: lfrichar | January 7, 2011, 1:21 pm 1:21 pm
“”"”he’s doing a good job and I don’t care what any of you say; now deal with that!!”"”"
Posted by: Martin
You might want to look at his approval ratings and his popularity ratings. You would certainly be a member of the minority in your thinking. Oh, enough with the race card, it works about as well as blaming Bush these days. Reality has set in, except for maybe in your mind. Deal with that!
Posted by: lfrichar | January 7, 2011, 1:23 pm 1:23 pm
mpp | Jan 7, 2011 1:14:28 PM
Could you possibly point out the legislation for tax cuts for the rich? Or is that just another myth created? Last I checked, we ALL got tax cut extensions for 2 years. Please point out the special treatment the rich got in tax legislation???
Posted by: lfrichar | January 7, 2011, 1:25 pm 1:25 pm
One of the largest one-monrh drops in “”"”"the jobless rate on record means the economy is recovering without the toxic Republican agenda “”"”
Posted by: mpp
Actually, it has to do with many people ceasing to look for a job and the many seasonal jobs for the holidays. But again, facts would interrupt your incorrect opinion of the unemployment rate.
Posted by: lfrichar | January 7, 2011, 1:27 pm 1:27 pm
1/10 of a percent, is not significant. period.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | January 7, 2011, 1:32 pm 1:32 pm
…its’ sure is a sign that the President is on the right track of keeping more devastation happening to this country that was caused and left by 8 years of spend, war and Deficits after having a Surplus. Thank you Mr. President.
Posted by: raven | January 7, 2011, 2:26 pm 2:26 pm
Also, some of us are still racist – yes, I went there, its the truth. You are mad because we have a black president, well, get over yourselves, he’s doing a good job and I don’t care what any of you say; now deal with that!!
Posted by: Martin | Jan 7, 2011 1:07:03 PM
You are right, Martin. Except that you are making your statement aimed at ‘white’ America. I’d like to ask you a few simple questions. If Barack Obama had run as a Republican, would he still have gotten the ‘black’ vote? If so, then the argument that blacks almost always vote Democrat is thrown out the window. If not, then would blacks be considered turning against their ‘own’ race because they didn’t vote for him, but instead stuck to their usual voting habits? What is more important to the black voters-policy or color? If policy is the main factor, why did the turnout of black voters go through the roof for Obama? Are the white Democrat candidates not good enough for an overwhelming black vote? Or, are black Americans racist? Lastly, if whites are the only ones who can seem to be considered racists, why did Obama get nearly 45% of the white vote in 2008?
Just a few things to consider.
Posted by: Shoe | January 7, 2011, 2:41 pm 2:41 pm
martin: race color creed sex religion etc are irelevant. bill clinton is currently educating obama on how to be an effective president.all the new players are clintonistas. if we are all working and the economy turns around i will support the head coach. nancy pelosi is the person who put obama in this situation.
san francisco does not represent this great country and thats where her politics come from.she and her ideas were denounced in historical measures on nov 2 2010. she is not relevant anymore. finally we have change we can beleive in.unemployment turned around because many people thought their benefits were going to end and took a job. i know as one of my sons and brother did just that.
Posted by: catman | January 7, 2011, 2:46 pm 2:46 pm
martin: one last thought..pelosi is as relevant as npr.
Posted by: catman | January 7, 2011, 2:49 pm 2:49 pm
Posted by: Martin | Jan 7, 2011 1:07:03 PM
You can GIVE all the money you want to the IRS. So, go ahead and write in your extra contribution. I’m sure it will help someone (a new job for ANOTHER federal employee). Knock yourself out!
Posted by: wheresmymoney | January 7, 2011, 3:25 pm 3:25 pm
I see I got a rise out of you guys! You guys are hopeless.Forever having your head in the sand. Why didn’t they read the section in the Constitution regarding the 3/5 clause in regards to slavery? Most of you are a bunch of hypocrites. You talk about big government but when you have a problem, you are out there with your hand out, just like everyone else. Long live Obama, already one of the greatest presidents ever! You don’t agree; I don’t really care!! Come on, let me here some more of the rants. How sad!!
Posted by: martin | January 7, 2011, 4:12 pm 4:12 pm
what a relief, from a dried up old hag to a real man who is humbled by the honor bestowed on him. THIS is what the U.S. is really about. Humble beginnings to success WITHOUT haughtyness or nastiness.
Posted by: midwestmaven | January 7, 2011, 7:47 pm 7:47 pm
Maybe Boner wasn’t crying out of humility but crying for the possibility of being President. Look at how the violence has already begun. This has been coming to a head for the 8 years of harsh twist of the son turning away from his fathers “kinder gentler nation”, how we could consider torture an acceptable practice. How we can leave American citizens stuck on roofs in New Orleans begging for help while rescue trucks are turned away. How people campaigning for office could suggest eliminating the minimum wage. How politicians can follow after Insurance Companies rather than caring for their constituents getting affordable Health
care.
I just have a hard time believing those are tears of humility.
Posted by: Coffesack | January 9, 2011, 12:39 pm 12:39 pm