Pelosi Statement on Disappointing May Jobs Report; Fifth Straight Month of Job Losses [Bush's fault]

Speaker.house.gov ^

[Sub-Driver]

Press Releases Contact: Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami 202-226-7616 For Immediate Release 06/06/2008 Pelosi Statement on Disappointing May Jobs Report; Fifth Straight Month of Job Losses

Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi today released the following statement after the Department of Labor released its employment report for May showing a loss of 49,000 jobs, and an unemployment rate that increased to 5.5 percent – the biggest monthly rise since 1986. The economy has lost nearly 325,000 since the beginning of the year:

“Today's alarming rise in the unemployment rate is further evidence of the need for a New Direction in our nation's economy. Since the beginning of this year, our nation has lost nearly 325,000 jobs, including 49,000 in the month of May alone. Those men and women, and millions more, are facing additional economic pressure as gasoline, food and health care costs climb precipitously.

"The New Direction Congress will send the President legislation to provide urgently needed assistance to millions of Americans who have lost their jobs and are struggling to make ends meet. Just as we worked cooperatively in passing a stimulus plan to put $117 billion into the hands of more than 130 million Americans, we urge the President to support legislation to address the needs of America's unemployed and struggling workers. Today's unemployment numbers demonstrate that this is an urgent challenge."

* * *

Action by New Direction Congress on the Economy

· Congress has enacted legislation that provides millions of Americans with Recovery Rebates.

· This week, Congress sent the President bipartisan legislation that will help create 40,000 jobs.

· Congress has enacted legislation to suspend the fill of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which has been successful in the past in lowering gas prices.

· Congress has enacted the Farm Bill to ease the strain of food prices on millions of Americans.

State of the Bush Economy

· The unemployment rate surged to 5.5 percent -- the biggest jump in more than two decades (since February 1986) and climbing to the highest level in nearly four years (October 2004). The unemployment rate is now a full percentage point higher than a year ago.

· America suffered the fifth straight month of job losses of 49,000 in May, the worst losing streak since 2005 and those job losses have totaled 324,000 this year.

· The number of people looking for work climbed 861,000 to 8.5 million in May. Nearly one in five of those looking for work have been jobless for six months or more.

· Average weekly earnings continue to fail to keep pace with inflation -- up only 3.2 percent over the last year compared to nearly 4 percent inflation.

· Crude oil prices today reached a record $134 per barrel, and gas prices remain at a record of $3.99 a gallon -- more than double that of 2001-- after setting new record high prices for 28 of 29 days. Diesel prices remain at near record levels, at $4.76 a gallon.

· Families faced the biggest jump in food prices in 18 years in April – as prices rose by more than 6 percent over the last quarter. The cost of bread is 14 percent higher than a year ago, while milk is up 13 percent.

[Sub-Driver]

yap, yap, yap.....

[pnh102]

Unemployment didn’t start rising till after the Democrat party took over Congress.

[MNJohnnie]

Since the Democrats took over to “fix” everything, Unemployment up a full point, Gas prices up about $1.25, and the economy is hovering on recession.

If that is the “Change” we got from the Democrats by putting them in charge in 2006. What do else do you suppose they will change after they win in 2008?

[FlingWingFlyer]

Pelosi is trying to grab the spotlight back from Feinstein who is getting all the ink and camera face time for providing a secluded rendezvous site for Bari and Hillary.

[BobinIL]

You are so right!!! Unemployment and gas prices started rising right after the dems took contol of the congress and senate. This needs to be the message of the 2008 campaign.

[tobyhill]

***Those men and women, and millions more, are facing additional economic pressure as gasoline, food and health care costs climb precipitously.***

Pelosi, you promised to lower gas prices and that's why the Rats got hired.

[From The Deer Stand]

So, Pelosi, tell us what your Democrat congress has done to help strengthen the economy since you’ve taken over. After all, you’re in the driver’s seat.

[Dead Corpse]

Urgent assistance? Code for "raise taxes".

Dems are either too stupid to realize that this CREATES more unemployment or too corrupt to care.

Either way, it's their "new direction" that is causing this and the RINO's in the GOP are enabling them.

[bamahead]

el-puke-o

[avacado]

Pelosi: “Today's alarming rise in the unemployment rate is further evidence of the need for a New Direction in our nation's economy."

Sorry Sweeheart! It's YOUR economy now and has been since your last NEW DIRECTION in early 2007!

Suck it up Buttercup!

[Califelephant]

The Democrats in the House and Senate are using their majorities to tank the U.S. economy. More Democrats in Congress = more harm to American businesses and consumers.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

When the Republicans took control under Clinton the deficit started down, the economy picked up; when the Democrats took control under Bush everything went to hell.

[geo40xyz]

Well, lets start with a real fact! The economy was doing fine until the democRATs took control of Congress:-)

What in the hell has the donkeys done to help? Answer: absolutely nothing......

[tobyhill]

***Crude oil prices today reached a record $134 per barrel, and gas prices remain at a record of $3.99 a gallon — more than double that of 2001***

Pelosi, of the 110% increase in the cost of gas since 2001, 70% of it has come in the 17 months since the Democrats took control of congress.

[jonrick46]

The economy has the DemonRATs and their environmental weenies to blame pure and simple. If we could drill our own domestic oil we would side step the market forces that are putting increased demand on supply. If we could have more refineries, we would reduce the refinery bottleneck that limits supply. If we had more nuclear power, we would have more energy diversity. If we had tax incentives on those innovations that create fuel alternatives, like biodiesel from algae, wide spectrum solar cells, high efficiency capacitance rechargeable batteries, and low temperature fusion; we would not have energy needs driving down the economy.

[snarks_when_bored]

Pelosi Statement on Disappointing May Jobs Report; Fifth Straight Month of Job Losses

It's been asserted that Pelosi and her filthy rich husband employ illegal aliens in their vineyard and their real estate development businesses. If so, perhaps they should pay a decent wage and hire some American citizens...that would help lower unemployment.

[chris_bdba]

Oh Nan, it was the Democratic house and Senate that passed the increase in the minimum wage that ALWAYS results in job losses.

[Parley Baer]

Solutions. Drill, drill, drill, drill, drill. Nuclear power, nuclear power, nuclear power, nuclear power.

[Bob Buchholz]

Bingo! How many articles were written pointing out that raising the minimum wage would result in higher prices and more unemployment. Course it must not have had anything to do with the current bout of inflation and unemployment.

[DakotaRed]

What’s the worry? Just keep raising minimum wage. Raise taxes on businesses and on the wealthy. Raise Gas tax, just keep raising taxes and everything will be okay. {Sarcasm}

God help us if they gain a super majority in November.

But, no one would listen in 2006. We deserved to be “taught a lesson.”