Jobs & Our Economy
Great American inventor and businessman Thomas Edison once said, "Show me a thoroughly satisfied man, and I will show you a failure." While recent unemployment news has stolen some headlines, I don't believe we can be satisfied with where we are.
The numbers speak for themselves. Unemployment is 7.8 percent and the national debt is over $16 trillion. This is not what recovery looks like.
Four years ago, we were promised a hope-filled future with 5.6 percent unemployment based on an $800 billion stimulus plan full of shovel-ready jobs. Now, it seems some are merely satisfied with lowered expectations.
A survey, this month, from the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) shows 69 percent of small business owners and manufacturers say this administration's regulatory policies have hurt them. Additionally, 67 percent say there is too much uncertainty right now to expand or hire new workers. Perhaps most shocking, more than half of small business owners say they would not start a business today given what they know now and in the current environment.
I believe that to cut the unemployment rate we need to cut the red tape. That's why I have worked with my colleagues in the House this year trying to aid small businesses and get employers hiring again. We have cut taxes, fought back burdensome regulations, voted to repeal Obamacare, and most importantly passed a budget.
I suppose it's not uncommon for us to be skeptical of this so-called progress in the economy. After all, we are from the Show-Me state.
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Sincerely,
