Sen. Mark Pryor and Rep. Mike Ross Praise Obama, Ignore Rising Unemployment, Debt

“Where is the President’s plan? Disappointing unemployment report is further evidence that the President doesn't understand the economic problems we face. For over two years, the President and his friends in the Senate have dramatically increased our national debt, increased the number of overly burdensome regulations and created obstacles for small businesses, resulting in uncertainty and fewer jobs. Meanwhile, the House has passed a plan that tackles our debt, reforms entitlements, simplifies the tax code, and encourages private-sector job creation. Where is your plan, Mr. President?” - Rep. Tim Griffin (AR-02)

“The rise in unemployment is proof President Obama’s plan to spend our way out of an economic crisis is just plain bad policy. As a small business owner, I know to restore faith in our economy we need a long term economic plan that focuses on reducing our national debt, encourages private-sector job creation, and reforms the way Washington does business. An economic plan that lowers taxes, reduces burdensome regulations on small businesses and farms, and stops smothering future generations with mounds of suffocating debt. America can pull itself out of this economic hole if the government stops obstructing growth.” - Rep. Rick Crawford (AR-01)

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Republican Party of Arkansas, Little Rock, Ark. – Despite promises from Senator Mark Pryor and Congressman Mike Ross that the now $830 billion failed stimulus package would create jobs and decrease unemployment, today’s disappointing jobs report is yet another reminder that Barack Obama and his Democratic allies have failed to lead our economy back to recovery.

“In 2009, President Barack Obama, Senator Pryor and Congressman Ross were touting the stimulus bill as a remedy to our nation’s debt crisis. When the stimulus bill was signed into law, the national unemployment rate was at 8.1 percent.  Two years later, with unemployment at 9.1 percent, the American people know we cannot spend our way into prosperity,” said Republican Party of Arkansas Communications Director Katherine Vasilos.

Ignoring the seriousness of our debt crisis, Senator Pryor recently called Republican attempts to include substantial spending cuts with a debt ceiling vote partisan “games,” and told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that Barack Obama deserves another four years in the White House.

“The American people cannot afford another four years of failed policies and broken promises. Rather than defending the status quo, Republicans are offering serious proposals to cut spending and actually grow our economy. Any increase in the debt limit has to come with serious spending cuts. For hardworking Arkansans, this isn’t about partisan games. It’s about their life and putting our economy and nation first,” said Vasilos.

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BACKGROUND
Stimulus Price Tag Keeps Going Up“Congress’s chief scorekeeper said Wednesday that the price tag on President Obama’s stimulus law has risen once again, this time to $830 billion — or more than $40 billion more than first projected.” (Stephen Dinan, “Stimulus price tag once again lurches higher,” Washington Times, 5/25/11)

Pryor and Ross Promise Arkansans Stimulus Package Will Deliver“U.S. Representative Mike Ross (AR-04) today touted much-needed legislation he helped pass in the House to create jobs and revive the nation’s sagging economy…” (“Ross: Stimulus Package Will Create Jobs, Help Boost Sluggish Economy,” Press Release, 1/28/09)

“The recovery package…will provide the jolt our economy needs right now.” (“Statement by Senator Mark Pryor on Committee Passage of the Economic Recovery Plan,” Press Release, 1/27/09)

Pryor and Ross Praise Obama “Pryor said he thought Obama deserved another four years.” (Charlie Frago, “Partisan ‘games’ miring debt-cap deal, Pryor says,” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 6/3/11)

Ross: "I fully expect that President Obama will be re-elected” (Roby Brock, Talk Business, ROSS SEES DEMOCRATIC HOUSE GAINS, SENATE BATTLE, OBAMA RE-ELECT, 5/17/11)

Unemployment Rises From 8.1% to 9.1% Since Stimulus Signed Into Law“The unemployment rate climbed to 9.1 percent in May, up from 9 percent in April and 8.9 percent in March.” (Jennifer Epstein, “Unemployment rises to 9.1 percent,” Politico, 6/3/11)

The unemployment rate rose to 8.1% from 7.6% in January. It was the highest reading since December 1983 and higher than economists' projections of 7.9%. (Chris Isidore, “Unemployment hits 25-year high,” CNN, 3/6/09)

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