Washington, DC - Congressman Ed Towns (D-Brooklyn) expressed his disappointment today over a new report issued by the Department of Labor which showed that the number of new jobs created in August was not enough to keep pace with population growth. The report virtually guarantees that the President will finish his four-year term with the
worst record of job creation since the Great Depression.  

"Even with the minimal job gains in August, this President still has a net job loss of one million jobs during his term,"said Towns.  "I think it is pretty clear that the job market under the current Administration is struggling and the American worker is bearing the brunt of Republican failed economic policies."

Even more troubling is the economic news for minorities.  The unemployment rate for African Americans is 10.4 percent, nearly twice the national rate, and there are 1.7 million African Americans looking for work.  The unemployment rate for Hispanics also rose to 6.9 percent, with 1.3 million Hispanic Americans looking for work. 

"When the President says that we are turning the corner on the economy, I think it is a sign that he has lost touch with the majority of hard working Americans," said Towns  "The sad part is the Republicans have not put forward a real plan to put families back to work.  Continued tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans and billions of dollars for Iraq is not going to cut it."

While unemployment dipped slightly, the report indicated that the change was mostly due to people giving up looking for a job.  More that 500,000 people gave up on the job search in August.  Towns stated that the "only way to turn around the economy is to focus on policies that help middle class and working poor families such as improved child care, reducing the cost of health care and targeted tax relief."

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