FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 17, 2011
Media Contacts
Adam Sarvana (202) 225-2435 (Grijalva)
Tim Schumann (202) 225-4755 (Ellison)
Washington, D.C.–Reps. Raúl M. Grijalva and Keith Ellison, co-chairs of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), today highlighted Caucus members’ show of unity in opposing the Republican continuing budget resolution on the floor of the House of Representatives this week, vowing to continue to push for job creation and real economic recovery in future debates. Progressives held the floor for more than two hours Tuesday afternoon in opposition to what they called the “Republican No Jobs Agenda,” repeatedly asking House Republicans why after nearly two months in control they had failed to bring a single job creation bill to the House floor.
“This is the opening salvo in what will be a protracted battle on job creation, sensible debt reduction and future budget planning,” Grijalva said . “We are determined to speak on behalf of the American people for as long as it takes.”
“They can talk a good game, but the Republican No Jobs Agenda proves that they can’t walk the walk for the American people,” Ellison said. “After nearly two months in control of the legislative agenda, their only jobs bill is a job-cutting bill to the tune of 1 million American jobs.”
Led by the Progressive Caucus, twenty-three Democrats spoke against the measure, which the Economic Policy Institute estimates will cost nearly one million jobs in virtually every section of the U.S. economyand badly damage the economic recovery. To see highlights of the speeches, click on the video below.
“Over the last 6 weeks since the Republicans took over control of the House, they haven’t created a single job. In fact, they haven’t even put a single jobs bill on the House Floor,” Rep. Judy Chu said during floor debate.
“Sixweeks after taking charge of the House, Republicans are not just ignoring jobs, they are cutting them and they admit it,” Rep. Paul Tonko pointed out during debate. “This morning our Speaker, Speaker Boehner, had a response with a concern this bill destroys American jobs, and he said, ‘so be it.’”
Tonko and Chu were among the many progressives to question why Congressional Republicans have been so unconcerned with job creation and economic recovery despite their rhetoric.Republicans had hoped to rush through hundreds of amendments in an effort to pass the spending bill by the end of the week, but progressives have remained committed to asking the Republican majority on the floor why neither the continuing resolution nor any other Republican bill actually creates any jobs.
# # #
