Jackson County Democratic Committee

From the DSCC

For Immediate Release

March 4, 2010

Contact: Deirdre Murphy, 202-485-3129

CONGRESSMAN ROY BLUNT VOTES “NO” TO CREATING JOBS FOR OUT-OF-WORK MISSOURIANS – STUNNING VOTE AGAINST BIPARTISAN JOBS BILL IN HOUSE

Despite Missouri Having Over 288,000 Unemployed Residents, Blunt Opposed Bill That Will Put Missourians Back To Work

Blunt Also Voted Against Stimulus Package Last Year – Bill Created Over 2 Million Jobs Last Year Alone, According To New Report From Nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office

For the second time in a span of just several months, Congressman Roy Blunt continued to ignore the 288,000 unemployed residents of his state by voting “no” to the HIRE Act this afternoon, a commonsense job creation package that will create thousands of good, new jobs across Missouri and more than a million jobs across the nation.  The bipartisan bill, has four key provisions including a payroll tax holiday for businesses to encourage hiring, additional funds to help small businesses expand, an extension of the Highway Trust Fund to allow more infrastructure investments, and an expansion of the Build America Bonds program to allow states finance infrastructure projects. Today’s “no” vote comes just several months after Congressman Blunt voted “no” to a House jobs bill last December.

“Congressman Roy Blunt continues to ignore the economic realities of his state by voting against every piece of legislation designed to jumpstart job creation,” said DSCC National Press Secretary Deirdre Murphy. “Instead of looking out for the unemployed workers of Missouri, Congressman Blunt’s voting record shows he cares more about political posturing than the people he has sworn to represent.  Today’s vote is just the latest example that Congressman Blunt has been in Washington for far too long.”

According to a new report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which Congressman Blunt also voted against, created over 2 million last year, has boosted the US economy by 3.5%, and has lowered the unemployment rate by up to 2.1%.  The CBO projects that the stimulus will have an even greater impact in 2010.

More on Roy Blunt’s failure to protect Missouri Jobs!