CBO Report: Congressional Republicans Threatening American Jobs
The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office has released a report highlighting the disastrous effects of the draconian sequester cuts: as the CBO estimates, if the sequester was lifted, the economy would create 500,000 new jobs in 2016.
That's precisely why House Democrats have pleaded with Republican leaders to begin bipartisan budget negotiations – to end the damaging cuts of the sequester, invest in the American people, and create new jobs. Earlier this summer, House Democratic Leaders wrote to Speaker Boehner calling on House Republicans to sit down with Democrats to help end sequestration, which has stifled economic growth and consumer confidence. As the Democratic Leaders wrote:
"For too long, the draconian cuts of the sequester have strangled our investments to keep America Number One in the global economy and to ensure our national security. We must find a balanced and fiscally responsible way to lift the sequester and invest in a stronger defense, better infrastructure and bigger paychecks for America's hard-working families." [6/23]
But Republicans in Congress aren't listening – not to House Democrats, and not to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office. Even as they flirt with another government shutdown, Republican Leaders evidently favor small-bore measures that would maintain the draconian sequester funding levels – instead of joining with Democrats to expand our investments in the American people.
Speaker Boehner: Said "Congress will likely have to take up a stopgap funding bill in September to avoid a government shutdown." [7/23]
Leader McConnell: Reportedly "angling for a yearlong spending measure that would allow him to sidestep a fight over busting the caps set by the 2011 Budget Control Act." [8/4]
For the American people, this is nothing new: yet again, dysfunctional Congressional Republicans are gearing up to cost our country jobs.