Washington, D.C. – Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference, released the following statement today after it was announced that the national unemployment rate held steady at 8.3 percent last month:

“While there is some encouraging news in this report, the fact remains that we are still stuck in the slowest economic recovery since the Great Depression, due in large part to the President’s ‘spend, borrow, and bailout’ policies which have stunted job creation in the private sector.  House Republicans have shown leadership by passing over 30 jobs bills, but the Senate refuses to consider nearly all of them.  There are definitely opportunities for bipartisan cooperation – as we saw with yesterday’s overwhelming passage of the JOBS Act – but we continue to wait for the Senate Democrats and the Administration to meet us halfway.  I will continue to advocate for pro-growth, pro-free market solutions to spark job creation, innovation, and opportunity.”

On Thursday, the Congressional Budget Office reported that the federal budget deficit in February was $229 billion – the highest monthly figure ever. 

“There cannot be a true, sustainable economic recovery until we get our fiscal house in order,” said Rep. McMorris Rodgers.