Brown-Backed Senate Majority Leader Thinks ‘Private Sector Jobs Have Been Doing Just Fine,’ ‘Says Government Jobs Must Take Priority’
In a speech on the Senate floor this morning — which would appear to exemplify the disconnect between some in Washington versus small businesses in the real world — Senate Democrat Leader Harry Reid explained why Senate Democrats are seeking to pass yet another $425 billion stimulus. According to Reid, “It’s very clear that private sector jobs have been doing just fine” and that’s why Democrats are focusing on growing more government jobs with this legislation.
Remarkably, Reid’s out-of-touch statement comes on the same day a new Labor Department report was released showing that for the first time, Washington D.C. – with its plethora of government jobs – has surpassed Silicon Valley as the wealthiest metropolitan area in the entire country.
Given that Senator Sherrod Brown was one of the first supporters of the Democrats’ new stimulus bill, and has been a longtime supporter of Leader Reid, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) called on Brown today to tell Ohio voters whether or not he agrees with Senator Reid’s statement.
“As someone who has helped install Harry Reid in this position of power, Senator Sherrod Brown ought to step forward and say whether or not he shares Reid’s view that ‘private sector jobs have been doing just fine’ in the Obama economy,” NRSC spokesman Jahan Wilcox said today. “We believe the voters of Ohio deserve to know why their liberal Senator is backing yet another massive stimulus bill that focuses on growing government, instead of helping the private sector grow jobs.”
REID RHETORIC: ‘Very Clear That Private Sector Jobs Have Been Doing Just Fine’
SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV): “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 Says Government Jobs Must Take Priority Over Private Sector Jobs,” The Hill, 10/19/11)
REALITY
911,000 Private Sector Jobs Lost February, 2009 – September, 2011 (U.S. Dept. Of Labor, “Employment, Hours, And Earnings,” Accessed 10/19/11)
Unemployment Rate: 9.1%. (“The Unemployment Situation – September 2011,” Bureau Of Labor Statistics, 10/7/11)
- Government Workers Unemployment Rate: 4.7%. (“The Unemployment Situation – September 2011,” Table A-14, Bureau Of Labor Statistics, 10/7/11)
‘TOP INCOME IN U.S. IS… WASH. D.C. AREA’
“The U.S. capital has swapped top spots with Silicon Valley, according to recent Census Bureau figures, with the typical household in the Washington metro area earning $84,523 last year. The national median income for 2010 was $50,046. … . The unemployment rate in the Washington metro area in August was 6.1 percent, compared with 10 percent in San Jose, according to Labor Department figures.” (“Top Income In U.S. Is…Gasp!…Wash. D.C. Area,” Bloomberg, 10/19/11)
