Capito: Rising Unemployment Demands Real Focus on Jobs

Capito: Rising Unemployment Demands Real Focus on Jobs, As Congress Prepares to Vote on a Trillion Dollar Health Bill, West Virginians Ask How Exploding Spending and Tax Hikes Will Create Jobs

WASHINGTON – Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., made the following statement today after the U.S. Labor Department reported that another 190,000 Americans lost their job last month, sending the national unemployment rate to 10.2 percent, the highest level in a generation:

“The economy remains the primary concern for families across our state, but instead of a clear economic agenda, this Congress remains committed to misguided policies that will burden our children and grandchildren with debt while saddling West Virginia businesses with job-killing tax hikes and regulations.

“This morning’s job report provides another sobering reminder for anyone concerned about the well-being of West Virginia families. Yet, instead of a focused effort to spur growth and get our economy moving, this Congress and this Speaker seem intent on spending yet another trillion dollars on a health care plan that will raise taxes, increase premiums and cut billions of dollars from Medicare.

“And for West Virginians who’ve seen hundreds of billions of dollars spent on a financial bailout, nearly $800 billion for a so-called stimulus package and $3.6 trillion on a budget – all sold as economic drivers – these aren’t the results they were looking for. The Washington economic agenda simply isn’t working for the American people.”