Hoyer, O'Donnell Clash Over April Jobs Report
Story Category: Politics »
Hoyer, O'Donnell Clash Over April Jobs Report
Washington, D.C. - 5/5/2012
By Andy Marquis
Incumbent Congressman Steny Hoyer (D: MD-5th) and his challenger, Maryland House of Delegates Minority Leader Tony O’Donnell (R: 29C) offered differing opinions on the April jobs report on Friday. The report states unemployment dropped to 8.1 percent but also suggests the recovery is slowing.
The jobs report also says 115,000 new payroll jobs have been created in April, a number that has disappointed economists after a winter of more-than-expected gains in the economy. Economists also say the numbers are more likely the result of a mild winter, as warmer weather boosted payrolls in some industries, and not as a result of public policy. However, as gas prices rise, economists fear the upcoming inflation and signs that the recovery is stalling could result in a double-dip recession.
Despite that, unemployment has fallen from a 10.1 percent peak in October 2009 to 8.1 percent in April 2012.
“With our economy continuing to add jobs in April, the twenty-sixth consecutive month of private sector job growth, our economic recovery keeps moving forward,” Hoyer said in a statement on Friday. “I am encouraged that the unemployment rate has fallen further and is now at 8.1%, down significantly from its peak during the worst of the recession. This comes on the heels of a report by the Institute for Supply Management earlier this week showing strong growth in our manufacturing sector, as well as news that GDP continued to expand in the first quarter of this year. However, our recovery is at risk of faltering unless Congress takes bold action to invest in job growth and economic competitiveness.”
Hoyer also lashed out on Congressional Republicans for not taking action on Democratic jobs plans.
““The American people – especially those still seeking work – cannot afford to wait while Republicans refuse to take action on comprehensive jobs legislation,” Hoyer said. “Democrats' ‘Make It In America’ plan will lay the groundwork for robust economic growth and new hiring by strengthening American manufacturing, and investing in education, innovation, and infrastructure to boost the competitiveness of our businesses in the global marketplace.”
Democrats have grown increasingly frustrated about Republican “obstructionism” in the House and Senate. Some liberal commentators, such as MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow, have criticized Republicans for focusing on social issues instead of the economy. The Republicans gained control of the House of Representatives in the 2010 mid-term elections over frustration with the economy and the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, more commonly referred to as “Obamacare”.
Republicans have said that the falling unemployment rate is the result of Americans losing hope on finding a job and have criticized President Barack Obama, elected in 2008 in the midst of “The Great Recession”, for not allowing free market principles to work. These sentiments were echoed by a statement released by O’Donnell’s campaign on Friday afternoon.
“Americans know our economy is stagnant - the unemployment rate remains too high with more and more people losing hope on finding jobs,” O’Donnell said. “It’s time to end Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid's economic policies and get the country back on track to job creation. It's time to create good paying jobs, reduce energy prices, reduce our foreign trade deficit, and support economic expansion by advancing a reasonable national energy policy.”
O’Donnell spoke in-depth about energy policy in his statement.
“It's time for a Congressman who supports the (Keystone) XL Pipeline on the House floor,” the statement reads. “The XL Pipeline is expected to add 20,000 jobs immediately and many hundreds of thousands of more jobs eventually to this failing economy. I agree with organized labor that this project should go forward now, not delayed ‘until after the election’. It is unfortunate Congressman Hoyer hesitated in his support of this venture. We must tap into our vast natural resources to create jobs, lessen our dependence on foreign oil, strengthen our national security and cut the trade deficit.”
Supporters of the pipeline have stated it would create over 120,000 jobs, numbers that critics say are exaggerated and that the environmental damage outweighs the positives. The Department of Labor and other non-partisan estimates at job creation from the pipeline throw it in the 5,000-6,000 range and say all those jobs are temporary and would be lost as soon as construction ends. Obama rejected the pipeline on January 18, 2011 but has since approved a portion of the pipeline. Critics also state that the pipeline does not cut the price of energy or reduce energy dependence because oil is sold on a global market.
However, halting construction of the pipeline has even put the Obama Administration at odds with service workers unions which are a key support block for Obama in his chances of re-election.
“It's time for a Congressman who supports the planned expansion for the Cove Point LNG plant right here that will create thousands of good paying jobs and economic expansion for Prince Georges County, Anne Arundel County and all of Southern Maryland,” O’Donnell also said in a statement. “An average of 750 construction workers would be employed during 3+ years of construction, a majority of them good Union jobs. There will be between 2,700 and 3,400 jobs associated with the project in Calvert County alone at the peak of construction activity. These jobs will be filled by workers from all 5 counties in this congressional district. We could grow as many as 14,600 more jobs in several industries once gas exports begin.
“It’s time we had a Congressman who is not afraid to lead and take on the challenges facing our citizens and country. Representative Hoyer no longer represents the economic interests of the citizens of Maryland’s 5th Congressional district. His ‘tax, tax, spend, spend’ ways and policies have contributed to the terrible Unemployment Report today. We need a Congressman who will step up and fight for American workers and free enterprise, and work to facilitate job opportunities where all Americans can pursue their own American dream - it's time.”
Hoyer and O’Donnell are on the ballot against each other in the November 6, 2012 general election, an election Hoyer is heavily favored to win.
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