Rep. Charles W. Boustany, Jr., MD
Submitted exclusively to Politico

Jobless claims in America rose to 9.4 percent in May, the highest jobless claims rate in 25 years.  In response to the report, Vice President Biden called the numbers “encouraging.”  One in 10 Americans without work is hardly encouraging, especially after a massive $800 billion stimulus was supposed to put Americans back to work.

Ahead of the stimulus vote, economic advisors to the President and Vice President warned that without the money contained in the bill, unemployment would reach 9 percent.  Republicans offered amendments and alternatives to speed infrastructure spending and tax relief to help businesses expand and hire to get Americans working again.  However, Congressional Democrats scoffed at the idea that their plan would not act quickly enough and passed the package they said would turn the economy around fast. 

Travelling around my district in Southwest Louisiana, I hear mayors, city council members and other local officials asking when the stimulus funds will finally be available to them.  So often a problem with government spending, red tape and bureaucracy ties up their needed funds.  As the unemployment rate passed 9 percent with the stimulus, President Obama decided an attempt at hurrying recovery funds might now be in order.

The Obama Administration’s recent decision to accelerate stimulus funds falls well short of what Americans need to get back to work.  American workers need a commonsense plan to make small businesses and entrepreneurs competitive again, not simply more government spending.  Republicans offered an alternative, but Democrats simply refused any debate or discussion on that bill.  Now, as their plan crumbles, the President hopes speeding his failing plan will produce results.

Speaker Pelosi and Congressional Democrats are also attempting to hurry healthcare overhauls and energy taxes through Congress in the same way they addressed the economy.  The President’s calls for post-partisanship ring on deaf-ears as policy is steamrolled through Congress.  Policies from Washington, whether directed at the economy, healthcare or energy, must be effective, and the stimulus fails to pass the President’s own definition of success.

Americans sent a message to Washington over the last two elections – a message that they expect cooperation to produce results to ease the problems they face on a daily basis.

Working together, we can help Americans get back on their feet, make businesses more competitive to allow them to hire and expand again and revitalize our economy.  It requires Republicans and Democrats working in a bi-partisan way though.  The American people deserve their government to be open and accountable.  The President’s stimulus has not worked, as is evidenced by May’s jobless claim rate.

Far from “encouraging” as the Vice President said, May’s jobless rate should be a wake-up call to all in Washington to join together to get Americans working again.