Tomorrow marks 200 days of Republican control of the House of Representatives–House Republicans have passed 81 measures, none of which create jobs, and some that actually destroy jobs. The GOP has instead focused on divisive bills and their budget to end Medicare, while providing tax breaks to Big Oil and companies that ship jobs overseas.
By the numbers:
200: Number of days GOP has been in charge (Saturday, July 23, 2011)
2 Million: Jobs potentially destroyed by GOP legislation that’s passed the House
0: GOP jobs bills
10: GOP votes against Democratic jobs bills
House Republicans have passed bills that destroy nearly 2 million jobs and create economic uncertainty:
HR 1 – The House-passed GOP ‘So Be It’ spending bill destroys 700,000 jobs, stalls our economic recovery, and protects subsidies for Big Oil.
HR 2 – The GOP Patients’ Rights Repeal bill puts insurance companies back in charge and repeals the Affordable Care Act, thereby destroying more than 300,000 jobs.
Republican Budget (H.Con.Res. 34) – On top of ending Medicare as we know it to pay for tax breaks for Big Oil, millionaires and corporations shipping jobs overseas, the Republican-passed budget cuts key investment to our economic future like education, college aid, life-saving medical research, infrastructure, and clean energy. This will cost Americans 1.7 million jobs by 2014, with 900,000 jobs lost next year, according to Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics.
Second Vote on GOP Budget — House Republicans doubled down on ending Medicare by passing a Rule on the Homeland Security Appropriations bill which “deems” that the Republican budget, with its cuts in Medicare and investment in our economic future is passed. House Democrats unanimously opposed the Rule.
Third Vote on GOP Budget/Cut, Cap, and End Medicare (H.R. 2560) — Just this week, the House passed a measure that incorporates the House GOP Budget Plan that ends Medicare and destroys jobs, and then calls for deeper cuts with a constitutional amendment. Republicans even rejected a Democratic effort to prohibit any provision in the bill from going into effect if it would result in the loss of jobs or slow economic growth, but Republicans voted NO.
HR 658 — The House Republican FAA Reauthorization and Reform Act will destroy 70,000 jobs, undermine our nation’s infrastructure, and jeopardize runway safety and improvements.
In addition, Republicans have also unveiled a proposal to slash critical investments in rebuilding our roads, transit, and bridges in this county that will cost us more than 600,000 jobs.
Meanwhile, House Democrats have been working on our Make It in America Agenda to revitalize manufacturing in America, create new good-paying jobs, and make our nation more secure. Republicans have rejected Democratic efforts to create jobs, voting 10 times against Democratic proposals or efforts to consider proposals–several of which are bipartisan–to create jobs:
An American jobs effort to end government contracts rewarding corporations that ship American jobs overseas. [Vote 19]
Build America Bonds to Create Jobs Now Act – leveraging public dollars to strengthen the private sector, growing our economy by rebuilding America’s schools, hospitals, and transit projects, supported by American businesses, the construction industry, mayors and governors. [Vote 38, Vote 30, Vote 189]
American Jobs Matter Act – to give preference in federal contracts to U.S. manufacturers that create jobs here at home. [Vote 257]
National Manufacturing Strategy Act, which calls on the President to lay out a plan to help ensure American manufacturers can compete, grow, and thrive. [Vote 279]
Advanced Vehicle Manufacturing Technology Act to help ensure the cars of the future are built here in the U.S., by investing in a broad range of near-term and long-term vehicle technologies to improve fuel efficiency, support domestic research and manufacturing, and lead to greater consumer choice of vehicle technologies and fuels. [Vote 310]
Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act to provide our government with effective tools to address unfair currency manipulation by countries like China, which could help create 1 million American manufacturing jobs by leveling the international playing field for American workers and businesses. [Vote 9, Vote 199] Recently, Democrats launched a process to force the Republican leadership to bring this bipartisan bill to the floor for an up or down vote.
A measure to promote jobs and innovation at home, by prioritizing patent applications from entities that pledge to develop or manufacture their products and technologies in the United States. [Vote 490]
Leader Pelosi on 200 days:
Tomorrow is the 200th day of the Republican majority, and the American people are asking: where is the Republican jobs plan? Since taking over the House, Republicans have voted against Democratic jobs legislation ten times and for measures that would potentially destroy 2 million jobs.
Republicans have spent 200 days ignoring jobs and pushing an ideological agenda to end Medicare and protect tax breaks for special interests, Big Oil, and corporations that ship American jobs overseas.
It’s time for Republicans to join Democrats to focus on Americans’ top priority – jobs – while responsibly reducing the deficit, strengthening the middle class, protecting our seniors and growing our economy.