Issa on June Job Numbers: Irresponsible for Congress to Recess in August with So Many Out of Work

WASHINGTON. D.C. – House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Ranking Member Darrell Issa (R-CA) announced released the following regarding today’s new jobs report:

“In the month of June, 14.6 million people were looking for work while 6.7 million Americans have been out of a job longer than six months, more than half of which, 4.7 million have been out of work for more than a year – that’s the highest level since government began tracking numbers in 1948.

“With so many Americans losing their jobs, looking for jobs and unable to find A job, it is unconscionable that the Democratic leaders in Congress would consider sticking to a six-week August recess plan while there is no viable plan in place to generate long-term, full-time job growth.  Democratic Congressional leaders should question the wisdom of whether or not it is appropriate to take a six-week recess so endangered incumbents can go back to their districts to make the case to keep their jobs, while Congress fails to do its job and so many Americans are out of a job.

“There is a path forward that can reinvigorate our economy and force a sustainable and solvent economic future that keeps our children and grandchildren free from debt.  The only way we can realize that future is to foster innovative entrepreneurship so we can generate new jobs, reign in government’s massive spending spree, reduce the crippling deficit, and decrease the tax burden on small businesses and the middle-class.  No matter what the preferred prescription is until we have an immediate and actionable economic plan in place, the Democratic leadership should keep Congress in session and worry less about keeping their job and more on creating jobs for the millions of Americans who have lost their job.”