“Reason for Optimism, But We Must Do Better”

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference, released the following statement after the federal government announced that the national unemployment rate fell from 8.9% to 8.8% in March and the economy added 216,000 jobs.

“While unemployment remains far too high in Spokane, Okanogan County, Ferry County, and many other parts of Eastern Washington, the latest jobs report is reason for optimism that House Republican policies are boosting confidence in the private sector and creating a more favorable climate for economic growth,” said Rep. McMorris Rodgers. “After two years of failed ‘spend, borrow, and bailout’ policies, House Republican efforts to prevent a record tax increase, adopt the largest spending cuts in U.S. history, and eliminate costly regulations (such as the 1099 requirement in last year’s health care law) are moving us in the right direction.

“However, with the federal government expected to run a record $1.6 trillion deficit this year and America still stuck in the longest streak of high unemployment since the Great Depression, we have a lot of work ahead of us, and it’s critical that the President and Senate work with us in a bipartisan fashion to avoid the threat of a double-dip recession.”

This is the second straight month that national employment grew by over 200,000– the only months to experience such high levels of growth since the start of the recession in 2007.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average just completed its best first quarter since 1999 and is near its highest level in three years.