DeGette Statement on President Obama's Jobs Address

WASHINGTON– U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (CO-1) released the following statement afterlistening to President Barack Obama outline his bipartisan plan to get Americaback to work.

"Whilewe were home for the district work period, every Member of Congress heard thesame refrain again and again– Jobs, Jobs, Jobs. The American people arefrustrated with a stagnant economy and with a government that is not addressingtheir most urgent needs.

"Tonightthe President presented Congress with a plan of reasonable, balanced ideas thatwill get our nation back to work, and a plan that, because of long-heldbipartisan support for most of these ideas, should be able to break through thestalemate of the past several months.

"Iam particularly pleased the ideas the President proposed will provide relieffor everyone, helping American families across the spectrum hurting so muchfrom this economic crisis. Teachers, firefighters, policemen, constructionworkers, and the small businesses that are the backbone of our nation will allbenefit from these proposals, and get the economy moving again. I am alsopleased that not only will the President's plan address our most urgentshort-term need to create jobs, because it is already paid for, it will notundermine our efforts to get our fiscal house in order for the long-term.

"Fortoo long the political gamesmanship and gridlock has stood in the way ofCongress providing real solutions to create jobs for Americans. Unfortunatelytonight that intransigence was once again on display, as my Republicancolleagues visibly refused to support the idea that everyone in our country –including the wealthiest among us – should contribute their fair share to our recovery.

"Inthe coming weeks, I look forward to reviewing the specifics of the President'sproposal, and I hope my colleagues will put aside the ideology we saw tonightand work with us to pass a bipartisan jobs package; finally putting countryahead of politics, getting Americans back to work, and our nation's economymoving again."