UPDATE: Some good info on Harry Reid’s absurd claim from the Senate Republicans:
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
1,503,000 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)
By Adam Bitely — Harry Reid must have forgotten who pays for government jobs. Reid stated on the floor of the Senate that government jobs must take priority over public sector jobs (video of Reid’s statement below):
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Wednesday said 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 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 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 in any way they can.
The legislation Reid’s 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.
Private sector jobs, which are the most important jobs in the economy, have been hurting contrary to Reid’s absurd claims. And this statement from Reid comes on top of the fact that he is currently pushing a $30+ billion bailout for teachers which would send millions to teachers’ unions.
For Harry Reid, it’s all about getting cash in campaign accounts and boots on the ground to whip up the votes.
Adam Bitely is the Editor-in-Chief of NetRightDaily.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @AdamBitely.
