The Final American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Creates 2.2 Million More Jobs Than The House GOP Plan

February 12, 2009

The urgency is clear. The choice is clear. The House will vote this week on a plan to create and save 3.5 million American jobs, jumpstart our economy, and transform it for success in the 21st century.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is the agenda President Obama laid out over the last two years and Americans embraced at the polls. It gives 95% of American workers an immediate tax cut, makes the first serious investment in rebuilding America's road, rail, and water infrastructure in a half century, and focuses our economy on solving the nation's greatest challenges: creating American jobs in clean, renewable energy and energy efficiency; in science and innovation; in bringing the power of IT to lowering health care costs and improving care; and in extending high speed internet access to small businesses and schools in every community in America.

But House Republicans have a competing vision. Rather than participate in reshaping the legislation to reflect some more of their priorities, the Republican Conference chose to vote NO as a block, offering an alternative plan on the House Floor which has:

2.2 million FEWER jobs
NO funding for America's highways, bridges, transit, and rail
NO investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy
NO transition to computerize medical records to reduce costs and save lives
NO expansion of broadband access to connect American small businesses to a global economy
NO help to states to protect the jobs of police officers, teachers, and health care workers
NO protection for health care coverage for those living closest to the edge
NO food assistance for struggling families
NO CHANCE AMERICA WILL COME OUT OF THIS RECESSION STRONGER AND MORE ABLE TO COMPETE ECONOMICALLY

See how the House Republican alternative compares to the final conference agreement of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act:

(Click chart for larger image)