House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the May unemployment rate was 9.7%:

“While any job growth is important during these difficult economic times, we need policies that will actually create permanent jobs and not just temporary, government positions.  The President’s trillion dollar stimulus bill has failed to keep unemployment below eight percent as promised and the Democrats’ out-of-control spending undermines our long-term economic stability.

“I’m also concerned about the potential economic impact of the Obama Administration’s moratorium on deepwater drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf.  This action could cost an estimated 46,000-120,000 jobs, primarily in the Gulf region where they can least afford to lose more employment opportunities.  We all share the goal of wanting America’s offshore drilling to be the safest in the world and our immediate focus should continue to be on stopping the leak, containing the spill and protecting the shoreline.  However we cannot lose sight of the significant economic impact that deepwater drilling has on jobs, our economy and our energy security.”

# # #

Print version of this document