Whitehouse, Cicilline Raise Concerns over Jobs Numbers
Monday, November 07, 2011
The national unemployment rate may have dipped down to 9 percent, but two members of Rhode Island’s Congressional Delegation say more needs to be done to help create jobs in the state and around the country.
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman David Cicilline, who are both up for re-election next year, have been vocal in their support of President Obama’s American Jobs act, the $500 billion plan the President claims will create thousands of jobs and prevent a double-dip recession.
The plan has faced roadblocks from both chambers in Congress, but many Democrats argue that the economy could use another boost and the President’s plan is a step in the right direction.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTPutting Rhode Islanders Back to Work
Whitehouse, who has faced nonstop criticism from Republican Barry Hinckley ever since the candidate decided to run for Senate earlier this year, said he pushed for legislation that would have invested over $150 million in the state and created thousands of jobs at a time when Rhode Island’s unemployment rate still hovers around 10.5 percent. The plan fell through in the Senate last week.
But spokesman Seth Larson said the Senator will continue to focus on getting Rhode Islanders back to work.
“Too many people in Rhode Island and across our country continue to struggle to find work,” Larson said. “It’s clear that we must do more to create jobs, and that’s why Senator Whitehouse joined President Obama this week to push for legislation that would have invested more than $162 million in Rhode Island to support thousands of jobs rebuilding our roads and bridges. Senator Whitehouse will continue fighting to put Rhode Island’s economy back on track, and Rhode Islanders back to work.”
Job Creation a Top Priority
Cicilline, who has continuously advocated for his Make it in America block grant legislation since taking office in January, said the fight for job creation needs to continue.
“My single most important priority since coming to Congress, and what I’ve been fighting for since day one, is job creation,” Cicilline said. “These most recent numbers further highlight what I’ve heard during my community dinners and main street business tours – that we need to continue that fight.”
Faster Economic Growth Needed
The two Rhode Island Democrats aren’t the only ones calling for more to be done to help the nation’s struggling economy. In a statement released Friday, Alan Krueger, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, said that the economy isn’t recovering fast enough.
“Today’s employment report provides further evidence that the economy is continuing to recover from the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, but the pace of improvement is not fast enough,” he said. “Private sector payrolls increased by 104,000 and overall payroll employment rose by 80,000 in October. The unemployment rate edged down 0.1 percentage point to 9.0 percent, a level that remains unacceptably high. Despite adverse shocks that have created headwinds for economic growth, the economy has added private sector jobs for 20 straight months, for a total of 2.8 million jobs over that period.”
Krueger said the country need faster economic growth to put more Americans back to work.
“Today’s report provides further evidence for why it is so important that Congress pass the President’s American Jobs Act to put more money in the paychecks of working and middle class families; to make it easier for small businesses to hire workers; to keep teachers in the classroom; to put construction crews to work rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure; and other measures that will help the economy grow while not adding to the deficit over ten years,” he said. “The report underscores that one area that remains notably weak is the construction sector. That’s why it is disappointing that the Senate was not able to proceed to the infrastructure part of the American Jobs Act.”
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