Reid signals government jobs must take priority over private-sector jobs

The Hill ^ | Oct 19 2011 | By Pete Kasperowicz

[NoLibZone]

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Wednesday indicated Congress needs to worry about government jobs more than private-sector jobs, and that this is why Senate Democrats are pushing a bill aimed at shoring up teachers and first-responders.

"It's very clear that private-sector jobs have been doing just fine; it's the public-sector jobs where we've lost huge numbers, and that's what this legislation is all about," Reid said on the Senate floor.

Reid was responding to recent comments from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who accused Democrats of purposefully pursuing higher taxes as part of the teacher/first-responder bill, S. 1723, so that Republicans would oppose it. McConnell said the bill was meant to fail in order to give Democrats an issue to run on in the 2012 election, but Reid said the Republicans are simply trying to defeat President Obama any way they can.

The legislation Reid is defending is part of Obama's jobs package. Vice President Biden was in Pennsylvania, an important election state, on Tuesday to push for the administration's plan on increasing the number of teachers.

Reid reiterated his emphasis on creating government jobs by saying Democrats are looking to "put hundreds of thousands of people back to work teaching children, have more police patrolling our streets, firefighters fighting our fires, doing the rescue work that they do so well … that's our priority." He said Republicans are calling the bill a "failure" because they are "using a different benchmark for success than we are."

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Private-sector jobs have increased over the last 19 months, while government jobs have lagged. They've also seen cuts in several states that are struggling to balanced their books.

Reid also said a majority of people polled support the bill, and that the tax hike needed to fund the $35 billion spending program is minimal.

"My friend, the Republican leader … is complaining about a tax of one-half of 1 percent … on people who make more than $1 million a year to pay for a program that would stop teachers from being laid off and rehire some of the teachers that have been laid off," Reid said.

Democrats who support the bill have said it would help save 400,000 teacher jobs and thousands of first-responder jobs that have either been cut or could soon be cut. Reid said Wednesday that these layoffs are "rooted in the last administration," but did not explain further.

Senate Democrats are hoping to pass S. 1723 as early as this week, although votes could be delayed until early November, depending on the progress made on passing a 2012 spending bill.

Reid also dismissed efforts by the Republican House to ease environmental regulations as a way to create jobs.

"The Republican response has been cutting back environmental health safeguards, I guess hoping that a sicker, more polluted country is a better place to create jobs, and it's not," Reid said.

A spokesman for Reid pointed out that Senate Democrats have tried to pass several bills aimed at spurring private sector job growth, but have been blocked by Republicans. Among other things, Democrats have proposed tax cuts to help companies hire workers and write off expenses, as well as infrastructure jobs that would add to private construction payrolls.

-- This story was last updated at 1:07 p.m.

[Spok]

This explains why the economy is still in the tank, and will continue to be until there’s a regime change.

[onedoug]

Statism over Liberty. Got it Reid.

[VeniVidiVici]

It's very clear that private-sector jobs have been doing just fine; it's the public-sector jobs where we've lost huge numbers, and that's what this legislation is all about," Reid

The Republicans better pounce all over this.

[TigersEye]

Sen. Reid, with your close ties to the mob you can answer this better than anyone; are mob jobs more government sector or private sector jobs?

[redhead]

Anything that miserable toad is for, I’m AGAINST. They don’t get much slimier/sleazier than dingy, hairy Reid.

[GoldwaterChick]

A friend recently moved back here, I’ve spent some time with her but it wasn’t until yesterday when she called to ask if my husband and I were picking her up for “our appointment” that I realized she has a problem. I told her we are picking her up on Sunday, the 23rd, to take her to church to be welcomed back into the membership, that I was going to call her the day before. She said “Isn’t this the 23rd”? Within a half hour she must have asked me 12 or 15 times to tell her what day it was, so she could write it down”, and couldn’t believe it was the 19th. Just broke my heart to realize where she is. She is living independently in a continuing care facility but not in the main building.
Symptoms like that are extremely concerning and are something to watch for. I hope your MIL is just very forgetful!

[GoldwaterChick]

I just checked your home page. You have my very favorite photo of George Bush! His heart and soul were on display that day. Unfortunately the current occupant doesn’t have much of either!

[Arrowhead1952]

I hope your MIL is just very forgetful!

I had to go to their home a few weeks ago to pick up something with a trailer, and she asked me three times if the traffic was bad.

You have my very favorite photo of George Bush!

Thanks. I also like that picture.