Middle Class Tax Relief & Job Creation
Act
Washington (Dec 9)
In the Weekly Republican Address, House Speaker John
Boehner touts the
Middle Class Tax Relief
& Job Creation Act, legislation the House will
vote on next week that will help to create thousands of new American jobs while
helping families struggling with the consequences of President Obama’s failed
economic policies. This jobs bill (H.R. 3630) will extend the payroll tax
cut, protect Social Security, reform and extend unemployment insurance, and
extend pro-growth tax relief for businesses of all sizes – while also advancing
several bipartisan measures that will directly support the creation of
private-sector jobs, including the Keystone XL energy pipeline. Everything
in the House bill is offset by spending cuts, rather than through tax increases
that would hit small businesses and destroy jobs, as proposed in Senate
Democrats’ bill.
"There’s no
more urgent task for Washington than getting our economy back to creating jobs.
Unemployment is still well above eight percent. Millions of Americans are
looking for work or have simply stopped looking altogether. That’s
unacceptable, plain and simple.
"Republicans have, as promised, focused all year on our plan to remove
government-made barriers to job creation. In all, 27 bipartisan,
House-passed jobs bills are now waiting for a vote in the Democratic-run Senate.
One of those initiatives is the REINS Act, passed just a few days ago. It
would require Congress to review any new regulation that has a major impact on
the economy.
"Nearly three years ago, President Obama proposed a ‘stimulus’ plan with the
promise it would keep unemployment below eight percent. It didn’t work.
Because his policies aren’t working, the president has asked Congress to pass
legislation that would extend unemployment benefits and payroll tax relief for
working Americans.
"Next week, the House is going to do that. To help Americans who are
struggling in the current economy, we will act on a jobs bill that extends
payroll tax relief, extends and reforms unemployment benefits, and cuts
government spending. There will be no tax hikes on America’s job creators.
"This bill will also contain several bipartisan jobs initiatives, including a
provision – which is in the president’s jobs plan as well as ours – to continue
a tax incentive that allows employers, small and large, to invest now in new
machinery and equipment, grow their businesses, and create jobs.
"Another bipartisan provision in this bill supports the job-creating Keystone
energy project.
"As you may know, the Keystone energy project would create tens of thousands of
American jobs and reduce our dependence on oil from the Middle East. This
jobs project has bipartisan support in the House and the Senate. It’s
backed by a broad-based coalition, from small businesses to organized labor.
"You’ve heard President Obama say the American people “can’t wait” to take
action on jobs. Well, the Keystone project is the very definition of an
idea the American people can’t wait for Washington to take action on.
"As a matter of fact, Stephen Harper, the prime minister of Canada, has warned
that if the United States doesn’t approve this project, Canada will be forced to
move forward with other customers, potentially China. We can’t stand
by and allow that to happen. Those jobs are too important.
"Unfortunately, the president wants to put off a decision on the Keystone
project until after next year’s election. Not only that – he now says he
will reject the House’s jobs bill if it includes support for the project.
"This is no time for the same-old my-way-or-the-highway theatrics. It’s no
secret Democrats and Republicans often disagree about the best way to create
jobs, but we can’t let those disagreements prevent us from acting when we agree.
There’s bipartisan support for extending payroll tax relief and unemployment
benefits. There’s bipartisan support for tax incentives that allow
employers to invest and expand. And there’s bipartisan support for the
Keystone energy project. We should get these things done.
"As the president has said, the American people 'can’t wait' for action on jobs.
At a time when they’re still asking the question ‘where are the jobs?,’ the
Keystone energy project is a bipartisan proposal the president ought to support.
Next week, the House will act to do the right thing for jobs and economic
growth. We remain ready to work with the president and find common ground,
which is what the American people expect and deserve.
"Merry Christmas, and thanks for listening."