House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the unemployment rate rose to 9.9 percent for April:

“During these tough economic times, job growth shouldn’t be taken lightly, yet a climbing jobless rate is of far greater concern.  When the unemployment rate climbs to 9.9 percent, it means more Americans are struggling to find work and provide for their families.  This is simply unacceptable.  The continuing failure of Democrats’ stimulus spending is proof that a big government, big spending approach is not going to get America’s economy back on the right track.  Yet, the Democrat leaders who control Washington, DC keep pushing for more spending and higher taxes, including a job-killing national energy tax that would devastate rural America and bring a halt to economic growth and recovery.  Republicans will continue to push for a new direction and pro-job creation policies like the American Energy Act to help turn the economy around by supporting, rather than punishing, small businesses and other private sector job creators.”

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