Chairman Tim Kaine’s Statement on the February Jobs Report

By Josh Cohen

This morning, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released the February jobs report. According to that report, American employers added 192,000 jobs in February, while the unemployment rate fell to 8.9 percent.  In response, DNC Chairman Tim Kaine issued the following statement:

“The February jobs report is one of the strongest such reports since the recession began, and it reflects the growing strength of our economy and the fact that we have now entered a sustained period of economic recovery thanks to the policies adopted by President Obama and Democrats over the past two years. Across America, more employers are hiring and more Americans are returning to the workplace. In the last year, private sector employers have added well more than a million jobs following 12 consecutive months of private sector job growth.

Still, too many Americans are out of work. In order to ensure that every American who wants a job has the opportunity to compete for one, President Obama has laid out a plan to rein in government spending on things we can no longer afford while investing in innovation, education, and infrastructure to grow our economy in the short term and help America win the future in the long term. Unfortunately, after two months in the majority in the House and with an expanded minority in the Senate, Republicans have failed to offer any initiatives or policies to grow our economy or create jobs. Instead, while President Obama and Democrats are fighting to win the future by out-educating, out-competing and out-building the rest of the world, Republicans are intent on re-fighting the battles of the past two years and pursuing a divisive social agenda to appease the far right wing of their party.    

We have come a long way since the dark days of late 2008. America’s prospects today are better than at any time since then, but in order to secure continued job gains and lock in a more prosperous future, America’s leaders must continue to act responsibly and pursue an agenda to address America’s economic challenges. President Obama and Democrats are doing so. Now it’s time for Republicans to meet them halfway.”