10/14/2009 3:29 PM ET
(RTTNews) -
House Republican leaders Wednesday called on Democrats to do more to create jobs across the country rather than focusing on health care reform legislation.
Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, said that the health reform effort was the wrong priority and faulted Democrats earlier efforts to stimulate the economy with a $787 billion recovery and growth measure.
"While Washington continues to focus in on this big government plan, this health care debate, the American people are wondering where are the jobs," Boehner said. "American families and small businesses are struggling. They have seen this economic stimulus package pass but they're asking the question where are the jobs?"
Boehner said he wasn't optimistic that GOP proposals would get a receptive hearing, noting the "rather dismissive" reply a letter he and other Republicans sent to the White House last week.
"I think it's time for Members of Congress to start working together to help small businesses and to help American families get our economy going again," he said. "The only way we're going to is to slow down on the government spending and allow American families and small businesses to keep more of what they earn."
Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va., the GOP House Whip, said he plans to convene a working group to review options for further stimulating the economy and supporting small businesses, expressing skepticism for a proposal Democrats have floated.
"Folks in the [Obama] Administration have floated the idea of a job creation tax credit," he said. "We don't think that's the right way to go about putting small businesses back into the game of investing and creating jobs."
He added, "We will come up with alternatives, as we have since January, in terms of how we best believe we can put Americans back to work."
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rogers, R-Wash., the vice chairwoman of the GOP conference, also echoed the call for a shift in priorities.
"Washington D.C., and the Administration and Congress really need to re-examine our priorities. We've been talking about reforming health care, reforming our energy, reforming our schools," she said. "Let's talk about reforming our priorities and really focusing on jobs. We're all aware that our unemployment is at 9.8 percent and rising."
She added, "It's tax relief and policies that will help our small businesses, our job creators in this country."
by RTT Staff Writer
For comments and feedback: contact editorial@rttnews.com